Right-wing extremists to march in support of convicted murderer in Svitavy, Czech Republic

On 23 July the town of Svitavy will once again experience an event convened by right-wing extremists in support of imprisoned skinhead Vlastimil Pechanec. Milena Brzoňová, head of the internal affairs department at the Svitavy town hall, told the Czech Press Agency that the individual who announced the event said it will take the form of a gathering and march. Marches for Pechanec’s release have been held in the town since 2006.

According to the event announcement, this will be a “public protest with a march against injustice, political trials, and the unjust conviction and imprisonment of Vlastimil Pechanec – a march for re-opening the trial and for the release and rehabilitation of all political prisoners.” The march will set off from the train station along the following route: Nádražní street, náměstí Míru, Pod Věží, Lanškrounská, Bratří Čapků, and Tovární streets, returning to the train station. The individual convening the gathering expects 200 participants.

According to the verdict in effect, Pechanec stabbed Otto Absolon twice in the belly with a knife at a discotheque in Svitavy in 2001. The 30-year-old Romani victim later died in hospital. His common-law wife, with whom he had two small children, succumbed to cancer in 2002. The court sent Pechanec to prison for 17 years in 2003. At his trial, expert witnesses said it would be very difficult to reeducate him. Pechanec said the entire case was fabricated and the evidence submitted was, in his view, fictional.

As in previous years, police are preparing security measures, but Svitavy Police spokesperson Anna Štegnerová did not want to publicize the details. The right-wing radicals’ event has always taken place without conflict.