Czech news in brief for April 30: Wednesday's top headlines

Hundreds gathered Tuesday at the Red Army Memorial in Komenského Sady to mark the 80th anniversary of Ostrava’s liberation in World War II. Mayor Jan Dohnal called for reflection in light of Russia’s war in Ukraine, stressing peace can’t be taken for granted. Among attendees was 100-year-old veteran Jan Ihnatík. Police monitored the event as some wore Soviet or Russian symbols. The battle for Ostrava, ending April 30, 1945, was one of the war’s bloodiest on Czech territory.

Czech customs officers intercepted 12 kilograms of dissolved cocaine worth CZK 35 million hidden in wine boxes bound for Gdansk, Poland, officials said Tuesday. The operation began after Polish border guards tipped off Czech authorities last August. In September, officers seized the shipment, replaced the drugs, and tracked the cargo to the Polish border, where three suspects were arrested. The organizer, a Polish national living in Panama, remains under investigation. Officials praised the success as a result of timely international cooperation and precise execution.

Czech soldiers will remain in Bosnia and Herzegovina through May amid ongoing security concerns, a Defense Ministry spokesman said today. The 150 troops were deployed in March as part of an EU mission following a deterioration in the local situation. Initially set for one month, their stay was previously extended to April. Parliament approved the deployment, which includes cooperation with Romanian and Italian forces. A further extension will depend on developments on the ground, officials said.

 Customs officers uncovered the first Czech lab producing clephedrone, a toxic synthetic drug linked to the dance scene. Authorities seized 953 kilograms valued at CZK 310 million. Police charged eight Czechs and one Pole with drug production; seven are in custody. The suspects face up to 18 years in prison. Officials warn of serious health and environmental risks tied to clephedrone’s manufacture, which until now was mainly found in labs in western Europe.

The Czech economy expanded by 2 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, driven mainly by household spending, according to a preliminary estimate released Tuesday by the Czech Statistical Office. GDP rose 0.5 percent from the previous quarter, slightly exceeding analysts' expectations. Domestic demand, especially final consumption expenditure, was the key contributor, while foreign trade had a negative impact. Gross value added rose across most sectors except manufacturing. Employment also grew, up 0.5 percent quarter-on-quarter and 0.9 percent year-on-year.

A survey of Czech female lawmakers revealed widespread psychological and sexualized violence, with four-fifths reporting threats or harassment. Attacks were more personal than those against male colleagues and discouraged many from political engagement. One in ten reported sexual assault. Forum 50 called for stricter parliamentary rules, anonymous complaint systems, and improved social media regulation to better protect women in politics.

Reconstruction of Prague’s Jiřího z Poděbrad Square is ahead of schedule and may be completed by spring 2026. Most trees are planted, a new irrigation system is in place, and the long-defunct fountain is being restored. Granite paving and barrier-free access enhance safety, especially near a school. The redesigned square includes rainwater tanks and retractable bollards to limit traffic, creating a safer, greener public space.

A Prague appeals court ordered a retrial for psychiatrist Jan Cimicky, 76, previously sentenced to five years for rape and extortion involving 39 alleged acts. The court found the original ruling lacked a thorough evaluation of witness testimony. Cimicky denies wrongdoing. Alleged victims included patients and interns, some minors. The case will return to the district court for proper review.

About 200 people were evacuated in Oldřišov, Czech Republic, after a World War II-era aerial bomb was uncovered during excavation. Bomb disposal experts defused the 100-kilogram device on-site. Firefighters assisted with relocating three immobile individuals. The evacuation and bomb dismantling were completed safely by 5:20 p.m., according to police spokesman Jan Segsulka.

Construction began on the CZK 2.6 billion Black Cube science and digitalization center in Ostrava. The nine-story facility will house the Moravian-Silesian Research Library and aims to be a symbol of the region’s transformation. Funded in part by the EU’s Just Transition program, the building is set for completion in 2027, 21 years after planning first began.

Roughly 7,000 Kometa Brno fans gathered at Zelný trh square to celebrate the team’s 3-0 win over Pardubice in the extra league final. The victory secured Kometa’s 14th title. Fans sang and danced late into the night. Police monitored the event, which remained peaceful aside from one minor clash with opposing fans, who left the area after beer cans were thrown.