The Czech Republic has called for Zelenskyy to be stripped of his White Lion Order.
The Czech far-right party Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) has called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be stripped of his Order of the White Lion. However, the administration of Czech President Petr Pavel stated that current legislation does not allow for this.
Ukrinform reports this.
The SPD initiative was spurred by a recent scandal in Poland. Party representatives stated that they were inspired by the Polish decision regarding the Ukrainian president’s state award.
However, Czech presidential spokesperson Markéta Řeháková explained that the head of state does not have the authority to independently strip anyone of state awards.
“A state award conferred or presented by the President of the Republic may be revoked only on the basis of a final court decision, which provides for the punishment of deprivation of honorary titles and awards,” she emphasized.
According to Rzhegakova, such punishment is only applicable in cases provided for by the Czech Criminal Code.
Thus, the SPD party’s initiative cannot be implemented without a corresponding court decision, and the Czech President has no legal means to revoke an already awarded state award.
As a reminder, Polish President Karol Nawrocki signed a decision to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle in connection with the awarding of the honorary title “named after the Heroes of the UPA” to the Separate Special Operations Center “North” of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Subsequently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent the Polish President the Order of the White Eagle, which he had previously been awarded. This followed a scandal surrounding the naming of a Ukrainian unit after UPA heroes, which was perceived in Poland as a sign of disrespect.
In response, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced he would return the Commander’s Cross with Star of the Order of Merit for Poland. Meanwhile, the Head of the Presidential Office , Kyrylo Budanov, and the Deputy Head of the Office, Ihor Zhovkva, announced the return of Polish state awards. They made this decision after Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle.
At the same time, former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and the third Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko refused the Order of the White Eagle , which they received from Poland.
Also follow “Pryamy” on Facebook , X , Telegram and Instagram.