About half a million people came to the a protest in Prague. The main demands are the resignation of the government and the rejection of the draft law on foreign agents. Demonstrators are calling for the country's democratic course to be maintained.
Mass protests in the centre of Prague
According to the organisers, nearly 500,000 people took to the streets of Prague. This is one of the largest protests in the Czech Republic in recent decades.
Participants held placards with the slogan «We will not allow our future to be stolen». They accuse the government of retreating from democratic values and increasing the influence of oligarchs.
The main demands of the protesters
The demonstrators are opposed to government attempts to tone down the rhetoric against Russia. Among the main claims:
- The authorities intend to adopt a draft law on foreign agents modelled on the Russian model
- Growing influence of oligarchs on politics
- Departure from democratic principles
Protesters say that if the current course is not reversed, the Czech Republic could follow the path of Hungary and Slovakia.
Context.
The current Czech government has recently been criticised for its attempts to change the country's political course. Opponents of the government believe that the adoption of the law on foreign agents could restrict freedom of speech and civil rights.
Similar laws are already in place in Russia and have caused a wave of outrage among the international community.
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