A Czech state attorney has reportedly stopped proceedings over suspected fraud by the prime minister. The scandal that intertwines his government and former business empire has hampered Babis' political career.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/S. Kubes
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A Czech state attorney on Monday halted a probe of suspected fraud by the country's prime minister, Andrej Babis, according to regional daily Denik N.
Babis, a 64-year-old multibillionaire, was accused of having cashed in just under €2 million ($2.2 million) in EU funding for a recreation and conference center called "Stork's Nest" a decade ago. The subsidies were intended to support small and medium-sized businesses, however the resort was bought in 2006 by Inoba, a subsidiary of Babis' business empire Agrofert.
The attorney's office said its opinion of the case had been "changed" but declined to provide further details.
"The state attorney submitted his final decision in the case, in which he changed his legal opinion," spokesman Ales Cimbala said in a statement.
"A senior state attorney will now revise the decision to determine whether the change is legal and justified."
The Agrofert-owned 'Stork's Nest' was built using EU subsidy fundsImage: picture-alliance/dpa/V. Simanek
'Politically motivated'
Agrofert, which started in the early 1990s, grew to become the Czech Republic's biggest private employer, encompassing over 250 companies. Babis became the second-richest man in the Czech Republic, with the US magazine Forbes estimating his assets at $3.5 billion (€3.18 billion).
It was not until 2016 that Babis admitted the complex belonged to his two adult children and his partner's brother at the time the EU disbursed the funds. Czech police have been investigating Babis, while he in turn has called the probe "politically motivated" and all accusations against him "lies."
Babis entered politics in 2011 by founding the ANO (YES) party on an anti-corruption platform, becoming finance minister and deputy prime minister in 2014. He was forced out of the Cabinet in 2017 over allegations of tax fraud and suspicious business dealings.
However, the crisis brought down the government and triggered a parliamentary election, which Babis' ANO won convincingly.
With war raging in Ukraine, holidaymakers are wary of visiting central and eastern Europe. The Czech Republic, however, is perfectly safe to visit at this time. We look at what the country has to offer.
Image: Czech Tourism
Prague — living past
In the center of the country lies the capital Prague. It is called the "Golden City" because of its more than 500 gilded tower domes. Gothic and Baroque styles dominate the cityscape. Prague has been a political and cultural center in Europe since the Middle Ages, attracting artists, architects and scientists. Today, Prague is one of the ten most visited cities in Europe.
Image: CzechTourism/Martin Rak
Charles Bridge — bustling with tourists
Every Prague tourist crosses it at least once: The 14th century Charles Bridge. It is a landmark, crossing the Vltava River and connecting the old town with the castle. The pedestrian bridge has a fairground atmosphere during the day, with artists, souvenir dealers and live music. With 30 baroque sculptures adorning the stone bridge, it feels like an open-air gallery.
Image: picture-alliance/imageBROKER/F. Bienewald
Bohemian Paradise
Along with Moravia and Silesia, Bohemia is one of the historical regions that make up the Czech Republic today. The Bohemian Paradise in the north of the country is popular with hikers — with sandstone cliffs, wildly romantic castles and palaces. Hruba Skala Castle, for example, is now a hotel built on a plateau. Guests can walk up a rock staircase directly into the mountain world.
Image: picture-alliance/imageBROKER/T. Mueller
The Giant Mountains
In the north is Krkonose or the Giant Mountains, the highest and most visited Czech mountain range. It's been a national park since 1953. Good snow conditions, numerous slopes and moderate prices for ski lifts and accommodation attract winter sports fans from home and abroad. Despite its name, the Giant Mountains cover only 631 square kilometers.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/D. Taneèek/CTK
Bohemian Switzerland — climbing sandstone rocks
Known as Saxon Switzerland on the German side, this mountain range continues on the Czech side. Hikers and climbers feel at home in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. The best known attraction is the Prebischtor, Europe's largest natural sandstone rock bridge. However, daredevils have not been permitted here since 1982. Due to strong erosion the bridge is not accessible.
Image: picture-alliance/M. Vennemann
Bath culture — sipping healing water
There's a long tradition of spas in Bohemia. Karlovy Vary is one of the most famous health resorts in the world. Since the Middle Ages, the mineral springs with a temperature of more than 60 degrees Celsius (140°F) have been used for healing baths and drinking cures. In historical colonnades, such as the Market Colonnade, there are medicinal fountains, from which spa guests scoop water.
Image: picture-alliance/imageBROKER/J. Hubatka
Palaces, castles, fortresses
There are countless castles, palaces and fortifications in the Czech Republic, more than 2,000 in fact. Lednice Castle in the southeast is one of the most visited architectural sites in the Czech Republic and, as part of the Lednice-Valtice cultural landscape, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area was established in the 17th century and is the largest park landscape in the world.
Image: Czech Tourism
Modern architecture — Villa Tugendhat
World-class modern architecture can be seen in Brno, the second largest city after Prague. German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe had Villa Tugendhat built there in the late 1920s. It was to become the home of the textile entrepreneurs Fritz and Grete Tugendhat, and is today regarded as a milestone in modern architecture.
Image: CzechTourism/Ales Motejl
Famous brewing art — Czech beer
Whether Budweiser, Staropramen, Gambrinus or Pilsner Urquell — Czech beer is world famous. In Bohemia, hops thrive, and beer has been brewed here for centuries. And it is so good that today it is a Czech national drink. Beer consumption in the Czech Republic is the highest in the world. This excellent beer is certainly another good reason for a trip to the Czech Republic!
