Czech news in brief for August 6: Wednesday's top headlines

A Prague court ruled Feb. 13 that activists from the Kaputin association did not commit a crime by painting a Ukrainian flag outside the Russian embassy in Bubeneč. The case was sent to the city district for misdemeanor review. The judge said the protest aimed to spark debate, caused no permanent damage, and the flag was removed in three days. In his closing statement, the state prosecutor emphasized that he did not want to question the social attitudes and political beliefs of the activists. Prosecutors have filed a complaint against the ruling.

The average monthly old-age pension in the Czech Republic reached CZK 21,063 in June, up CZK 383 from the end of 2024, the Social Security Administration reported. The Labor Ministry forecasts the average will rise to CZK 21,850 by January 2026. Over half of pensioners receive less than CZK 15,000 monthly, while 70,500 get more than CZK 30,000. The male average pension is CZK 22,324; the women’s is CZK 19,870.

Czech schools educating large numbers of Ukrainian refugee children will receive targeted funding this autumn, the Education Ministry announced. Starting January, a new support system will focus on newly arrived children, aligning with a revised funding model favoring schools with disadvantaged students. In late 2025, schools with at least 10 Ukrainian pupils making up 20 percent of enrollment will get CZK 5,062 per child. Ukrainian children remain entitled to 400 hours of free Czech language instruction annually.

Václav Havel Airport handled 7.77 million passengers in the first half of 2025, up 8 percent year-on-year and nearing pre-pandemic levels. London was the busiest destination, followed by Paris, Amsterdam, and Milan. Cargo rose 38 percent to over 40,000 tons. With summer traffic expected to climb, the airport aims to surpass 18 million passengers this year (its highest ever) while addressing past delays with improved check-in processes and increased staffing.

 The Constitutional Court has ruled that a child abuse victim may be entitled to higher compensation after finding a prior decision was poorly justified. The girl, abused by her stepfather from age 5 to 10, was awarded CZK 200,000 despite seeking CZK 600,000. Judges criticized the decision as arbitrary and lacking legal clarity. The High Court in Prague must now reconsider, factoring in the severity of the crimes, which included drugging, filming, and sharing the abuse online.

Europe’s first autonomous passenger train has completed over 1,000 miles on an open rail line in northern Czechia, its developer AŽD confirmed. Nicknamed Edita, the train runs on the restored Kopidlno–Dolní Bousov route, previously abandoned in 2010. Equipped with obstacle-detection systems and operating under human supervision, Edita is used to test rail automation in real-world conditions. The milestone has drawn international attention as a significant step toward integrating autonomous technology into public transportation networks.

Find out more about how the train works here.

Czech Justice Minister Eva Decroix is under growing pressure to resign after the abrupt resignation of David Uhlíř, the investigator she appointed to review a controversial state bitcoin donation. Uhlíř, a former constitutional judge, declined to submit a final report, calling the ministry’s acceptance of cryptocurrency from a convicted drug trafficker a threat to public trust. Critics say the case undermines public trust in the judiciary, prompting fresh scrutiny of Decroix’s leadership within the government.

Read more about the bitcoin scandal shaking up Czech politics here.

The Constitutional Court ruled Tuesday that Czech courts must outline a path to restoring parental contact when significantly restricting it. The decision came after a father was limited to one hour of supervised visitation weekly without a plan for expanded access. The court said such restrictions risk excluding a parent entirely and must be exceptional, justified, and offer a clear prospect of improvement to protect children’s rights.

Read more about the court’s ruling here.

Czech arms exports surged to a record CZK 94 billion in 2024, driven by war in Ukraine and increased NATO demand. Ammunition giant Sellier & Bellot and arms group CSG doubled output, though warn capacity is near its limit due to supply and labor shortages. Over 90 percent of production is exported, with most headed to Ukraine directly or via European allies financing weapons deliveries.

Twelve helicopters soared over Prague on Tuesday as part of Galileo SAR Meet 2025, Europe’s largest search-and-rescue drill for air crews. Hosted in Czechia for the first time, the weeklong event brings together teams from seven nations to compete in navigation, precision landing, and crane rescue tasks. Organizers emphasize international cooperation and skill-sharing, vital for real-life missions from wildfire evacuations to flood rescues across Europe’s diverse terrain.

Prague’s Karel Zeman Museum is celebrating the 70th anniversary of Journey to Prehistory with special programs, interactive games, and film trick demonstrations. The 1955 classic by Czech director Karel Zeman blended live action and animation to bring prehistoric creatures to life, inspiring generations of filmmakers and viewers alike. Restored in 2019, the film remains a milestone in cinematic innovation and scientific storytelling.

Read more about top Czech animators here.