Assistant to Czech MP fined for calling for migrants to be shot, he may appeal

Michal Kraft, an advisor and assistant to Czech MP Jaroslav Foldyna, has been fined for publishing an article inciting hatred against migrants, according to the Czech daily Deník N, and if he were to appeal the verdict, a public trial would be held. "A court order was issued in this matter that has yet to take effect, and for that reason I will not be commenting further," court spokesperson Jana Špotová told the media.

Špotová did not want to specify what kind of punishment the judge had levied against Kraft. According to Deník N, Kraft has been fined several tens of thousands of Czech crowns.

The defendant has confirmed receipt of the sentence. "Yes, the court issued its decision in August," Kraft said when contacted.

He did not want to comment on the severity of the punishment or on whether he would appeal. "I have nothing more to say to you about this," he is quoted as saying.

According to the court, Kraft has several days in which to appeal. Foldyna, who left the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) in February to become a member of the "Freedom and Direct Democracy" (SPD) club in the lower house, previously said that while he disagreed with some of his assistant's opinions, the article in question did not bother him.

A former secretary of the SPD, Jaroslav Staník, was also convicted by court order two years ago for racist remarks he made in the restaurant located on the grounds of the Chamber of Deputies. He appealed and eventually was sentenced to one year's probation after a public trial.