Czech Republic Jails Man Over ‘Russia-Ordered Arson Attacks’

By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

PRAGUE/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – A court in the Czech Republic’s capital sentenced a Colombian to eight years in prison on Monday for an arson attack and planning another one, amid concerns that Russia may be behind these and other attacks in Europe to sow division.

Prague’s Municipal Court also ordered Andrés Alfonso de la Hoz de la Cruz to pay damages worth 115,000 koruna ($5,300). Trial observers said the court approved a plea agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, who pleaded guilty.

The 26-year-old Colombian was detained a year ago after setting ablaze three Prague public buses at a depot at night, authorities said.

The court said that he had recorded what he had done and had left. Local workers reportedly managed to extinguish the fire.

The court agreed with the prosecution that the man “received orders” on the social media platform Telegram and was promised $3,000. He was also planning one more attack, possibly at a movie theater in Prague, according to investigators.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala previously said the failed arson attack was “likely part of Russia’s hybrid war” against his country.

He and others allege the disruption campaign is an extension of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war, “to sow division in European societies and undermine support for Ukraine.”

Czechia, more widely known in English as the Czech Republic, is a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion launched on February 24, 2022.

Despite the ongoing war, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said ahead of the ruling that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be “warmly welcome” in Hungary.

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