The Deputy Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, Tomio Okamura, has sparked controversy with his recent comments regarding the presence of Ukrainian refugees in the country. In an interview with the program Rozstřel, he claimed that many residents of Prague have expressed concerns about the increasing number of Ukrainians, suggesting that their presence is overwhelming.
Okamura attributed this situation to the previous government’s policies under Prime Minister Petr Fiala, asserting that the economy was performing better when there were fewer Ukrainian refugees—around 400,000 less than currently. He acknowledged that certain sectors, such as construction and cleaning, rely heavily on foreign workers, yet he argued that the influx of Ukrainians should be reconsidered.
Despite his criticisms, Okamura noted that the Czech Republic will continue to adhere to European Union directives, which include maintaining temporary protection for Ukrainians due to the ongoing Russian aggression. He suggested that the cessation of the war would naturally lead to the end of this temporary protection, compelling Ukrainians to either return home or apply for long-term residency in the Czech Republic.
“At the same time, we are preparing a fundamental strengthening of the law on the residence of foreigners in the Czech Republic,” Okamura stated.
In a related development, Polish President Karol Nawrocki signed a law on February 19 that revokes special privileges for Ukrainian refugees, aligning their legal status with that of other migrants in Poland. This legislative change has raised questions about the future of Ukrainian refugees in neighboring countries.
Okamura further claimed that many Czech citizens have reported feeling as though they are in Ukraine when visiting shopping centers in Prague, where they predominantly hear Russian or Ukrainian being spoken. He emphasized that citizens should feel at home in their own country, asserting that these sentiments are not rooted in racism.
“People are complaining en masse—this is the limit. A Czech citizen should feel at home in the Czech Republic. And this is not about racism,” he remarked.
Previously, during his New Year’s address, Okamura criticized financial aid to Ukraine, calling it support for an “utterly senseless war” and referring to the Ukrainian government as a “Zelensky junta.” In response, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Czech Republic, Vasyl Zvarych, labeled Okamura’s statements as influenced by Russian propaganda.
The Czech Foreign Minister, Petr Mačínka, remarked that Zvarych should refrain from publicly evaluating the statements of Czech officials, framing the issue as an internal matter. In contrast, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha asserted that diplomats should defend Ukraine’s dignity abroad.
In light of these developments, opposition parties in the Czech Republic are seeking to initiate a vote in the Chamber of Deputies aimed at Okamura’s resignation. On January 3, Czech President Petr Pavel responded to Okamura’s anti-Ukrainian remarks, indicating that he would discuss the incident with the government. Following this, Mačínka visited Kyiv, where he stated that Czech citizens do not support Russia.
It is noteworthy that Okamura had previously removed the Ukrainian flag from the Chamber of Deputies building in November 2025, shortly after taking office. This flag had been displayed since February 2022, coinciding with the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In response, opposition members displayed three Ukrainian flags in their faction windows.
Tomio Okamura, the Deputy Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, has faced backlash for his remarks about Ukrainian refugees, claiming their presence is overwhelming. His comments have prompted discussions about the legal status of refugees and sparked political actions for his potential resignation.