Why the Push to Strip Zelensky of a Czech Honorary Award Falls Flat, According to a Historian.

Czech Political Landscape Under Scrutiny

According to Espreso.tv: Historian Radomyr Mokryk has weighed in on a political move in the Czech Republic, where the far-right SPD party is attempting to revoke Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Order of the White Lion. Mokryk argues this effort will generate little traction among Czechs, contrasting sharply with the reaction seen in Poland. He stressed that

“this story is clearly inspired by Poland”

On July 1, 2023, the SPD party formally launched a bid to strip Zelensky of the Order of the White Lion, one of the Czech Republic’s highest state honors. While Mokryk acknowledges that

“the initiative does exist”

Distinctive Czech Award Practices

Mokryk further pointed out that Czech President Petr Pavel “immediately makes it clear that Czech orders do not function the same way as in Poland.” This highlights a key difference in the award traditions between the two nations.

For context, on May 26, 2023, Zelensky signed a decree granting the honorary title 'Named after Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army' to the Separate Special Operations Center 'North'. However, on June 19, 2023, Polish official Nawrocki revoked Zelensky’s Order of the White Eagle, a move to which the Ukrainian president responded on June 20 by returning the award.

Interestingly, amid these events, Nawrocki’s approval rating reached 54.8% on June 26, 2023. This suggests that political decisions in the Czech Republic can draw both support and criticism from the public.

• 90% of Ukrainians favor a constructive resolution to historical disputes with Poland.
• This reflects a desire to improve bilateral relations despite political tensions.

Overall, the SPD initiative can be viewed as part of a broader dynamic in political relations among the Czech Republic, Poland, and Ukraine.

The SPD’s push, along with the Czech president’s and public’s response, underscores the unique features of Czech political culture, which differ from those in Poland. The interplay between these countries, shaped by historical grievances and modern challenges, reveals the complexity of regional politics in Central and Eastern Europe, where national interests and historical memory often overlap.