People in Need staffer to advise Czech Interior Ministry

Pavel Novák, spokesperson for the Czech Interior Ministry, told the Czech Press Agency today that Jan Černý of the People in Need organization (Člověk v tísni) has become an adviser to Czech Interior Minister Jan Kubice in the area of human rights, the Romani minority and social exclusion. “Jan Černý will provide advice and consultation on matters of human rights, the Romani minority and socially excluded communities to the minister. Černý has long devoted himself to this question at the People in Need organization,” Novák said.

Blanka Besserová, née Kosinová, has been appointed the new police ombudsman. Besserová, previously the spokesperson for the Organized Crime Detection Unit (Útvar pro odhalování organizovaného zločinu – ÚOOZ) is married to Czech Culture Minister Jiří Besser. She worked at the ÚOOZ when Kubice was in charge there and then went on to work for the Czech Transport Ministry. Former Czech Transportation Minister Radek Šmerda has been appointed an adviser to Kubice on his governmental, legislative and parliamentary agenda.