Czech PM insists on his criticism of U.S. human rights report

22 October 2012

2 minute read

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek does not regret his sharp words on the U.S. Department of State annual report on the state of human rights in the world that also criticised the Czech Republic, he said during the EU summit today.

Topolanek indicated he considers similar reports totally worthless due to the way of gathering the data on which they are based.

"As for the report by the U.S. Department of State, I can only say that a country that allows the torturing of prisoners can hardly teach me lessons about human rights being violated in my country," Topolanek (Civic Democrats, ODS) said on Wednesday.

He added today he would not withdraw his words, adding he is convinced that his reaction was fully adequate.

Topolanek said he really thinks that if some NGOs sent information to Washington and the U.S. Embassy released it without any comments, such reports had no value for the Czech Republic.

The U.S. Department of State report on the state of human rights in the world for 2007, among others, claims that although the Czech government protects the rights of its citizens, corruption and law enforcement still remain a serious problem in the country.

The report also says even high Czech government officials are sometimes involved in corruption, mentioning the scandal involving junior ruling Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) chairman Jiri Cunek, former deputy prime minister and local development minister, and the case of former Czech Social Democrat (CSSD) PM Stanislav Gross.

Cunek protested against the parts of the U.S. report on the state on human rights in a letter sent to U.S. ambassador to Prague Richard Graber on Thursday.

Cunek resigned from the cabinet last November when the state attorney reopened the case of his alleged corruption. His prosecution was later definitively halted and his party renominated him to the posts. He has not returned to the government yet.

Gross was forced to resign as PM over the unclear funding of his flat in 2005. Moreover, he last year bought lucrative shares and subsequently sold them with the profit of millions of crowns under dubious circumstances.