Friday News Briefing

Regional elections and anti-government protests were the main focus for extremist groups in late 2012, the BIS counter-intelligence service writes on its website today. No extremist activities threatening democracy in the Czech Republic appeared late last year, BIS says. Far-right groups focused on the regional elections held in October 2012, but the Workers' Party of Social Justice (DSSS) failed to secure a single seat in regional legislatures. Apart from the DSSS, the ultra-right Autonomous Nationalists were also active, particularly on the Internet.   

A retired pilot subpoenaed in the investigation of an overpriced defense contract has been charged with sexual abuse, the Czech News Agency reported.  Former Czech Army pilot Karel Danhel, a witness in a case investigating the allegedly overpriced deal for the purchase of Spanish CASA aircraft, claims his criminal prosecution is an effort to discredit him. Prosecutors said the charges were based on the questionable testimony of an underage girl. Danhel's defense attorney claims the teen-aged girl confessed she fabricated the accusations.    

The Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in the Logar province of Afghanistan has ended its five-year mission, the Defense Ministry anounced today. The PRT, consisting of civilian experts and their armed military protection unit, saw some 2,500 Czech soldiers participate in the training of Afghan security forces and provide security for the work of civilian experts concerned with the reconstruction of schools, hospitals, water systems and civil service facilities. Ten members of the mission were wounded during their service, and one died.  

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