Czech Defence News of the Week (27 July – 3 August 2018)

Author: Bucharest International Air Show, Laurenttiu Capatina|Caption: JAS-39C Gripen

Czech Air Force present to the centennial of the Romanian Air Force - a visit of two Czech politicians to Crima criticized by Ukraine - an exercise by the 41st Battalion to prepare the troops for foreign deployments - Jana Maláčová appointed Labour and social Affairs Minister - Jiří Mazánek becomes Directof the NCOZ - Radim Dragoun to become Director of the GIBS.

• It is important for the Czech Republic to keep its good relations with the United Kingdom after Brexit, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said after he met with the British Prime Minister Theresa May in Salzburg on Friday, 27th July. „Brexit is not positive for Europe, but it is a fact and we must try to make the damages as small as possible," Babis said.
• The Bucharest International Air Show commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Romanian Air Force; the Czech Air Force was represtented by a JAS-39C Gripen piloted by captain Ivo Kradoš from the 21st Tactical Air Force Base Čáslav.
• The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine protested against visit of Czech politicians to Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014: an act not recognised by most countries. The ministry said the visit by MEP Jaromír Kohlíček (KSČM, communists) and Czech senator Jaroslav Doubrava, a former member of the KSČM, was illegal. On Sunday, 29th July, Kohlíček and Doubrava attended a show by the Russian Black Sea Fleet. It has been their second visit to Crimea since April.
• An exercise by the 41st Mechanized Battalion takes place in the military area Hradiště from the 30th July till 10th August to prepare the Company Task Force eFP 2 which will relieve the unit currently deployed in Lithuania, and the 12th ACR Task Force EUTM - Mali. The unit is composed of the mortar battery of the 41st Battalion, and will pass pre-deployment tactical and certification exercise next week.

See also: Current Foreign Deployments of the Czech Army

• President Miloš Zeman appointed Jana Maláčová (ČSSD) the new Labour and Social Affairs Minister on Monday, 30th July. Maláčová replaces Petr Krčál (ČSSD) who resigned over a plagiarism scandal two weeks ago. Among her priorities, Maláčová mentioned pay rise in the public sector and an increase in the minimum wage, proposals related to employment policy and family policy.
• Jiří Mazánek, head of the serious economic crime and corruption section of the Czech National Centre for Organised Crime (NCOZ) of the Czech Police, has become the new Director of the NCOZ, replacing Michal Mazánek who quits after two years at his own request. In the past Jiří Mazánek worked on the cases of overpriced military contracts, such as suspected corruption in the purchase of the Pandur II 8x8 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) or the CASA C-295 transport aircraft.

See also: RBS-70 Anti-Aircraft Missle System: the Czech price checked

• Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) proposes district state attorney's Radim Dragoun for the Director of the General Inspection of Security Forces (GIBS). Dragoun has been chosen among 12 candidates. The former Dicrector of the GIBS Michal Murín has left his office after a conflict with Babiš. Dragoun is the head of the State Attorney's Office in Louny in North-West Bohemia. He studied at the Police Academy in Prague and graduated in law from the West Bohemia University.