The government of the Czech Republic has annulled nine decrees issued by the Czechoslovak Council of Ministers between 1972 and 1980. These decrees related to transferring lands in the republic to the free use of the Russian Federation, the successor state to the USSR. The decision was reported by TASS, citing a post on Twitter from European Affairs Minister Martin Dvořák.
According to Dvořák, the government acts terminate measures that allowed a foreign power to station itself on Czech soil and use substantial tracts without compensation. He stated that the administrative actions were imposed after the country’s invasion and the subsequent military presence, and they had remained in effect for decades, shaping ownership and usage patterns along significant portions of Czech lands.
Dvořák noted that 59 plots were identified as no longer necessary for diplomatic purposes by the Russian embassy, a determination that Czech media described as a reallocation of land use. These plots are spread across major cities and regions, including Prague, Karlovy Vary, Brno, and other locales throughout the country. The government’s move appears to reflect a broader effort to reassess land arrangements tied to foreign missions and to ensure clearer boundaries for diplomatic property within the Czech Republic.
Media coverage indicates that the parcels include 25 buildings, some of which are associated with the Russian diplomatic mission and are located in residential zones. The Czech news agency ČTK reported that the Russian embassy can still access the affected lands through existing lease agreements, implying a transitional phase as contracts are reviewed or renegotiated in light of the annulment. The report underscores that lease arrangements may continue under current terms until new arrangements are established, aligning with standard diplomatic practice while clarifying property rights for the public realm.
Beyond the land deals, the economic picture within the euro area continues to unfold. Inflation in the euro zone rose through the first part of the year, with the rate accelerating to 7.0 percent on an annual basis by April, up from 6.9 percent in the previous reading. The final figure matched the earlier preliminary forecast and remained below the pace seen in the same month a year earlier, when inflation reached approximately 7.4 percent. The rebound in prices during this period was uneven across member states, with Eastern European economies showing notably higher annual rates in several cases. For example, Hungary recorded a yearly rate around 24.5 percent by the end of April, Latvia about 15 percent, and the Czech Republic approximately 14.3 percent, highlighting widening price pressures in the region. These dynamics reflect broader monetary and fiscal adjustments as European economies navigate supply disruptions, energy costs, and evolving demand patterns.