Czech Military Intelligence: Right-wing extremists focusing on Army

The annual report for 2011 released by the Czech Republic’s Military Intelligence service (Vojenské zpravodajství – VZ) says right-wing extremists are continuing to focus on serving in the Czech Army. Enlisted soldiers sympathetic to right-wing extremism are also said to be making greater use of their legal options for preventing being released from service.

“Screening newly enlisted professional soldiers with respect to their possible ties to extremist circles remains a priority for Military Intelligence,” reads the annual report, which was published online today. The full report (in Czech only) can be downloaded here: http://www.vzcr.cz/static/zprava2011.aspx

The VZ also states in the report that some professional soldiers who were discovered to have ties to right-wing extremist circles have since reduced those contacts. The reason is said to be not only measures taken by the Czech Defense Ministry, but the “process of [these soldiers’] personal maturation and changes in their life priorities”.

The VZ reports that members or sympathizers of left-wing extremist elements are in principle not enthusiastic about military service. This is said to be the reason there has yet to be a single case reported of a left-wing extremist serving in the Army.