Ukrainians in the Czech Republic face the threat of returning home: who should pack their bags?

The Czech Republic is considering changing the conditions of residence for Ukrainians already in the country. This information was confirmed by the head of the populist party “Freedom and Direct Democracy” (SPD), Tomio Okamura. According to him, this issue will become one of the priorities for the political force in the process of forming a new government after the parliamentary elections.

Okamura noted that reviewing the residence permit will be one of the main requirements for the party to enter the government. He emphasized that the mass influx of Ukrainians to the Czech Republic, which occurred after the start of the war in Ukraine, caused several problems, in particular, with the availability of housing and an increase in waiting times for medical services. The politician emphasized that his initiatives are not aimed at sowing hatred, but are aimed at protecting the interests of the Czech population.

According to the SPD’s plans, only Ukrainians with official employment in positions for which Czechs are not eligible will be able to stay in the Czech Republic. In this case, the politician proposes introducing additional controls over the employment of foreigners and limiting their stay in the country if they do not meet these criteria.

Experts note that such initiatives may cause concern among the Ukrainian community in the Czech Republic, as there are currently no clear criteria for reviewing permits. At the same time, politicians emphasize that the issue of the legal employment of foreigners in EU countries is becoming increasingly important in the context of economic and social challenges.