Czech Parliament removes Ukrainian flag, Speaker says “It will not return”
Prague— In a dramatic early test of the new Czech political leadership, the Ukrainian flag that has flown on the Chamber of Deputies building since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 has been taken down, a move ordered by newly elected Speaker Tomio Okamura.
Okamura, leader of the nationalist-populist Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, said the flag’s removal fulfills a clear election promise and reflects a shift in national priorities. “Only Czech symbols should fly on our public buildings,” he wrote on social media, adding that the Ukrainian flag “will not return while he holds the post.”
Symbolic Act Sparks Immediate Backlash
The flag’s removal—just hours after Okamura was elected Speaker—has triggered intense political debate both inside the Czech Republic and abroad. Opponents argue the decision undermines longstanding Czech support for Ukraine and damages the country’s international standing.
Czech President Petr Pavel strongly condemned the removal, saying the Ukrainian flag “symbolized solidarity with a country under attack” and should remain displayed. He warned that weakening support for Ukraine “would cause greater harm” to Czech values and security.
Resistance and Responses
In a dramatic parliamentary response, deputies from opposition parties quickly hung multiple Ukrainian flags from windows and balconies within the parliamentary complex in protest—a pointed challenge to Okamura’s decision.
International reactions have also followed, with the Ukrainian parliament raising the Czech national flag in a reciprocal gesture of solidarity amid the controversy.
What This Signals
The removal is more than symbolic: it reflects deeper political shifts following recent elections that brought a more nationalist-oriented coalition to power in Prague.
This government has signaled readiness to reassess Czech support for Ukraine, including potential changes in military and humanitarian backing, even as many Czechs historically viewed support for Kyiv as central to their country’s post-Cold War identity.
Critics warn the episode could strain Czech relations with allies in the EU and NATO at a time of heightened geopolitical tension. Supporters, however, praise the move as a reaffirmation of national sovereignty and a return to neutrality in foreign conflicts.