Ministry wants to solve cases of extremists in Czech military

The Czech Defence Ministry has several possibilities how to solve the problem of neo-Nazis and its supporters serving in the military, but the ministerial powers are limited if these extremists do not violate law, Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanova told reporters today.

Extremists can be, for instance, transferred from combatting to logistic units, their contracts may be terminated early or not extended or they can be stripped of security vettings, said Parkanova (Christian Democrats, KDU-CSL).

The daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) reported today that some neo-Nazis and their sympathisers serve in the Czech military elite units. The daily identified two members of the rapid deployment brigade and one member of an artillery unit.

Parkanova said she would do her utmost to prevent these people from serving in the army.

"I will consult concrete steps with the chief-of-staff [Vlastimil Picek]," Parkanova wrote in a text message sent to CTK.

She added that the ministry, in cooperation with the police, would check applicants for military service to find out whether they belong to neo-Nazi groups.
Parkanova, however, stressed that this is "a completely marginal phenomenon."

MfD reported that soldiers Jan Brhel, Martin Hrach and Vladimir Holub regularly attend international meetings and demonstrations of neo-Nazis, as confirmed by photos, witnesses and police.

Brhel and Hrach have been described by the police as members of the most militant wing of extremists. They also attend such events as meetings commemorating Third Reich’s war criminal Rudolf Hess, MfD writes, adding that experts are of the view that there are more such troops in the Czech military.

Commanders of elite units are afraid that neo-Nazis may receive first-class sabotage and anti-terrorism training in the rapid deployment brigade. They are taught close combat and silent killing techniques there, which they could use in conflicts with the police, anarchists and in the training of other extremists, MfD says.
Political analyst Zdenek Zboril points out that the Czech Republic is not the only country that faces the penetration of rightist extremists into the military forces. Britain and Germany must solve similar problems.

The service in elite units can motivate extremists and give them a feeling of being exceptional, Zboril adds.

He says the recruitment criteria should be specified more precisely and new professional soldiers should be selected by very experienced experts.