Czech Interior Ministry's mid-year report on extremism: Far-right, populist, xenophobic SPD party is on the side of Kremlin propaganda

That is the conclusion of the Situational Summary Report on Displays of Bias Hate and Extremism published by the Czech Interior Ministry. Most entities covered by the report reflected on the Russo-Ukrainian war in accordance with the interests of the current Kremlin representatives.

“Different extremists and xenophobic populists, which is to say, the stable segment of what is called the ‘fifth column’, undertake various activities that suit authoritarian regimes. In these days of actual military conflict, the weakening of the Czech Republic represents an existential threat to the democratic rule of law,” the report says.

Ultra-right DSSS and “National Democracy” extremists unequivocally on the side of Putin’s Russia

Some extremist entities on the right have become a reliable segment of what is being called a “fifth column” that is pro-Kremlin, occupying various positions. The vice-president of the “Workers’ Social Justice Party” (DSSS), for example, said that: “Fiala’s Government is saber-rattling, threatening, and purposefully creating an atmosphere of hatred towards Russia while practicing boundless submissiveness towards NATO and the USA that could drag us, as a republic, into a war that is not ours, but a war of the USA and the arms corporations.”

The “National Democracy” (ND) party occupies a position that is similar. “We also reject the hysterical media campaign about an ‘aggressive Russia’ and an ‘innocent Ukraine’ because the truth is not black and white in this case,” the report quotes ND as saying.

“The responsibility for the destabilization of Ukraine lies primarily with the United States of America, without their support for the Maidan in 2014, the current situation would not have occurred,” ND is quoted as claiming. Extremist entities on the right and their representatives also focused on criticizing Government officials for their alleged “censorship” measures or their protection of refugees from Ukraine.

The DSSS also expressed support for Marian Kotleba, the chairman of the “Followers of Kotleba – People’s Party Our Slovakia” party (Kotlebovci – Ĺudové strány Naše Slovensko) party, who earned a suspended sentence for the crime of showing sympathy for a movement aimed at suppressing fundamental rights and freedoms. On that occasion, the vice-chair of the DSSS presented himself wearing a T-shirt with the inscription “Na Stráž” (“To the Guard”), i.e., a salute to the members of the Hlinka Guard of the WWII-era Slovak State, who participated in repressions, including against the Czech population.

“Workers’ Youth” want to delete the democratic system and establish Nazism

The DSSS youth wing, “Workers’ Youth”, said it was necessary to “destroy the system of this decadent, degenerate democracy” where democrats favor “the inadaptable and non-white races“. It is, in their view, necessary to “remove the rotting tumor of democracy and communism once and for all and establish a system of national socialism!!!”

Members of the youth wing have held a series of paramilitary exercises. They also published a Czech translation of the combat manual of the Nazi Werwolf sabotage units.

The youth wing has also said that in the future, “guerrilla fighting will be inevitable”. After the invasion of Ukraine, the “Workers’ Youth” adopted an antisemitic conspiracy theory about a “Zion-directed campaign against European nationalists”.

According to this theory, it is supposed to be a deliberately provoked war with the aim of harming two white nations using “Mongoloid nations and Muslim Caucasians“. As the war has progressed, these pseudo-patriotic activists have also targeted what they call “inadaptable parasites” from Ukraine, according to the report.

Extremists from the right on trial

During the monitored period, courts of various instances have dealt with extremists on the right breaking the law. For releasing a Czech translation of David Hoggan’s publication The Myth of the Six Million, the District Court in Žďár nad Sázavou sentenced Hedvika Fiksová personally to a fine of CZK 15,000 [EUR 610] and her publisher, Bodyart Press, to a fine of CZK 45,000 [EUR 1,830].

That verdict was subsequently upheld in Brno by the Regional Court. The Constitutional Court has also rejected a complaint from Matouš Bulíř, the man given a suspended sentence for placing a sign with an antigypsyist text at the Lety u Písek Memorial.

Tomio Okamura’s SPD rules the populist/xenophobe scene, parroting the claims of Kremlin propaganda

Activists and politicians from the populist/xenopobe scene, under the influence of Russia’s war on Ukraine, have put aside the subjects of the alleged Islamization of the West, or of defining themselves against “COVID totalitarianism”, or immigration – before and during the Russian aggression they have been repeating claims from Kremlin propaganda that have been more or less modified. The “Freedom and Direct Democracy” movement (SPD) of Tomio Okamura stated before the Russian invasion that Ukraine wanted to provoke a military conflict with Russia with the help of NATO.

The SPD has also advocated an end to ammunition and weapons supplies for Ukraine, inciting the Czech public against Ukrainian refugees in the process. “Okamura, in line with the Kremlin’s statements about a ‘special military operation’ to achieve the alleged ‘de-Nazification’ of Ukraine, has called that country a ‘hotbed of neo-Nazis’,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Nela Lisková: Romani Ukrainians are “the detritus of civilization” as well as “mistakes of nature”

In the community of what are called “militias”, Russia’s hybrid actions have resonated for a long time, and of course this narrative has continued during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Nela Lisková of “National Militia” (Národní domobrana) has attacked Romani refugees from Ukraine fleeing the Russian bombing, according to the report, using the terms “detritus of civilization” and “mistakes of nature” for them.

Disinformation media: Xenophobic outbursts against different groups, breaking solidarity with Ukrainian refugees

Disinformation media outlets often resorted to xenophobic outbursts against certain groups, including dehumanizing statements, and antisemitic conspiracy messages were also being communicated more than they have previously. Aiming to undermine solidarity with Ukrainian refugees, the disinformation media spread news about their allegedly being pampered, about health risks associated with their alleged illnesses, about “health care tourism”, about their allegedly hidden wealth, about their alleged ingratitude, or about the fact that Africans, “Islamic State terrorists”, “mafia members” and Muslims are allegedly traveling to the Czech Republic as part of the refugee wave.

Attacks in general against Romani Ukrainians became a favorite disinformation subject. As a result of Russia’s war on Ukraine, a large number of half-truths, lies and manipulative messages have begun to spread in the Czech Republic, especially through the Internet.

The disseminators of these messages are not just activists and politicians involved with disinformation in general or with pro-Russian propaganda, but even some educators, for example. Actions or statements related to approving of Russia’s aggression have been dealt with by the criminal justice authorities, according to the report.

The disinformation media have not entirely forgotten their classic subjects; since the beginning of the year, the Czech public has been continuously supplied with exclusively negatively-tinged allegations about immigrant or Muslim “self-enrichers” allegedly receiving various contributions from the Czech state. These communities have long been described as the source of a wide range of problems that Western states allegedly cannot deal with at all.