Okamura blasts Ukrainian flag on Charles Bridge, vows tougher migration rules

The unfurling of a 30-meter-long Ukrainian flag on Prague’s historic Charles Bridge has sparked a diplomatic row, with the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies calling the display an unnecessary provocation toward Czech citizens.

The event, organized by the Ukrainian Embassy in Prague, took place on Sunday to mark Ukraine’s Unity Day, with participants carrying a massive blue-and-yellow banner across the 14th-century landmark.

While intended as a celebration of national identity, the display has highlighted deepening political divisions as the Czechia’s new coalition government moves to tighten residency rules for foreigners.

Writing on the X social media platform, Speaker Tomio Okamura argued that such large-scale displays damage mutual relations and disrespect the host country. He confirmed he has already approached the Foreign Ministry to ensure similar demonstrations do not take place at sensitive Czech historic sites in the future.

“From my point of view, this is an unnecessary provocation by Ukrainians towards our citizens who disagree with the mass migration of Ukrainians to the Czech Republic,” the Speaker stated. “We are not in Ukraine here, but in the Czech Republic."

He went on to say that the government is "preparing a new law to tighten the conditions for the stay of foreigners in the Czech Republic, including Ukrainians."

In its first press conference, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s coalition announced it would reject the EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum, committing to a “zero-tolerance” approach to illegal migration. The government placed a draft resolution rejecting the pact on the agenda for its first cabinet meeting.

A national law that took effect in January 2026 introduced stricter residency rules, including a three-strikes provision allowing authorities to revoke permits for foreigners who commit three offenses in a year, limits on repeat asylum applications, and tighter rules for temporary protection for Ukrainians.

The dispute reflects broader policy tensions in Czechia. While Okamura pushes for stricter residency laws, the Ministry of Labour and economic experts warn that the country faces a labor shortage of over 200,000 positions, requiring the use of foreign workers to sustain growth.

Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych, who attended the bridge gathering, thanked the Czech public for their ongoing solidarity and recent fundraising efforts for energy generators.

However, the Ambassador has previously been forced to defend the community against the Speaker’s rhetoric, recently describing anti-Ukrainian remarks from the lower house as “undignified."

Okamura removed the Ukrainian flag from parliament on his first day as Speaker in November. The government has since agreed to fly only the Czech and European flags at its headquarters with the Ukrainian flag raised on special occasions.

Ukraine celebrates Unity Day annually to mark the 1919 unification of its eastern and western territories.