Prague, Aug 20 (CTK) – A crowd of several hundred demonstrators warned of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and protested against Russia’s present-day policy outside the Russian embassy this afternoon.
The speakers included Soviet dissident and Ukrainian deputy Mustafa Dzhemilev, Czech musician and an aide to former president Vaclav Havel Michael Kocab and a number of civic activists.
Dzhemilev, who advocates the rights of Crimean Tatars, arrived to the Czech Republic on the invitation of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes.
He warned of the current Russian aggression in Ukraine. Dzhemilev said the mentality of the Russian elites had not changed since the Soviet era.
I am very glad that this meeting is held just close to this embassy,“ Dzhemilev said, referring to the fact that the speakers were delivering their speeches just before the fence of the Russian embassy.
The thirst for aggression is still behind the fence,“ he added.
When mentioning President Milos Zeman and his positive attitudes to Russia, the demonstrators, who waved Czech and European flags, booed.
The event was attended by philosopher Vaclav Nemec, film director Vaclav Marhoul, activists Mikulas Minar, Tomas Peszynski and Ziggy Horvath as well as TOP 09 leader Jiri Pospisil.
Organisers said the event was to commemorate not only the 1968 invasion, but also to warn of Russia’s interference in the policy of other nations.
Along with Ukraine and Georgia, the speakers warned of Russia’s bombing Syria and the hybrid war against the West, comprising propaganda, cyber attacks and interference in elections.
Unlike Prime Minister Andrej Babis and chairmen of both parliamentary houses, Zeman is not about to deliver any speech on the 50th anniversary of the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia that crushed the Prague Spring reform movement.