Also:The "Night Wolves", a Russian motorcycle club known for its staunch nationalism and close ties to Vladimir Putin, who have been making appearances in a number of Czech and Moravian towns and cities in connection with the end-of-war celebrations arrived in Prague on Monday.
At Prague’s Olšany Cemetary they were greeted by groups of supporters and opponents who eventually got into a skirmish. Two men were briefly detained by the police.
The Russian bikers’ presence in the country is highly controversial. They claim they are paying homage to Red Army soldiers who died liberating Czechoslovakia, but critics see their rides as politically provocative and Russian propaganda.
News - All stories | Radio PragueThe chairman of the Social Democrats, Jan Hamáček, has called on deputy leader Jaroslav Foldyna to apologise for his behaviour at a gathering of Russia’s Night Wolves bike gang in Prague on Monday. At the event Mr. Foldyna got into altercations with protesters against the nationalist bikers, who have been linked to President Vladimir Putin.
However, the Social Democrats deputy chairman has declined to say sorry for his actions. Mr. Foldyna released a video – recorded by weights in a gym – refusing to apologise and describing himself as a patriot.
Russian Night Wolves honour war dead in Prague, face critics | Prague MonitorBikers from the Russian nationalist Russian Night Wolves motorcycle club arrived in Prague's Olsanske hrbitovy cemetery on Monday, paid respect to the Red Army war dead and met over 150 supporters and dozens of opponents, while both groups had a verbal exchange.
After they met the two groups, the bikers laid wreaths at the memorial to the war dead.
The supporters of the Russian Night Wolves bikers shouted vulgarly at their opponents, who carried EU, Ukraine and NATO flags. The police detained one of the protesters, who attempted to approach the supporters of the club.
There were similar exchanges between both groups earlier on Monday in Pruhonice near Prague. Among the followers of the Night Wolves, there was Social Democrat (CSSD) deputy chairman Jaroslav Foldyna who had a verbal exchange and physical contact with one of the protesters.
The Night Wolves have a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who visits their events.
Previously, the club was sponsored by the Kremlin, but last year, its application for a state grant was turned down.
The club's head, Alexandr Zaldostanov, is blacklisted by the USA and the EU over his support for the Russian annexation of Crimea.
The Night Wolves have been coming at this time of year for some time now, and they travel to other parts of Europe as well. [MENTION=16063]The Man[/MENTION] I'm sure you know more about them than most Czech journalists. ?
In somewhat related news:
Marshal Konev's statue sprayed with colour in Prague | Prague MonitorThe statue of Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev in Prague was sprayed with colour last night, police spokeswoman Andrea Zoulova told journalists on Tuesday, adding that the police were investigating the case.
The statue was already sprayed last year. This time, the town hall will have it cleansed, Prague 6 deputy mayor Jan Lacina said.
At the end of World War Two in May 1945, Konev (1897-1973) helped liberate Prague.
There have been controversies over the statue due to Konev's participation in the suppression of the Hungarian uprising against the Communist regime in 1956 and the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961.