PRAGUE/TRINEC – Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) sharply criticized the actions of Czech intelligence services regarding a disinformation campaign that has recently attempted to create the impression that Poland has territorial claims against the Czech Republic. Babiš stated that he learned about the entire matter not from security institutions, but first from the media. He voiced his criticism at an extraordinary meeting of the State Security Council on Thursday. According to the Prime Minister, the main problem was the speed with which information reached the government. According to Babiš, he criticized the intelligence services for either not providing the government with any information about the fake profile and related campaign, or for providing it with a significant delay. However, due to the classified nature of the State Security Council meeting, the Prime Minister did not want to disclose further details. According to his statement, the meeting also addressed cyberattacks.
The disinformation campaign aimed to create the impression that Poland was preparing steps towards taking over part of Czech territory. According to available information, a fake profile of the Czech ambassador to Poland or a forged version of the website of Czech Radio were allegedly used to spread these claims. The goal of such manipulations could have been to sow distrust and tension between the inhabitants of both neighboring countries. The entire case also raised the question of how quickly Czech state institutions can respond to coordinated disinformation operations. The State Security Council has been dealing with the issue of hybrid influence for a long time. For example, in February of this year, it took note of the action plan for the National Strategy for countering hybrid influence for the period 2026–2027.
President Petr Pavel commented on the case on Friday in Třinec, where he described the campaign as a deliberate provocation. At the same time, he praised the fact that, in his opinion, people were not significantly influenced by claims of alleged Polish territorial demands. He also emphasized the importance of good relations between the Czech Republic and Poland and warned against attempts to disrupt these relationships. Pavel also stated that he has no information confirming that Russia was behind the specific campaign. However, he recalled experiences with previous subversive activities and pointed out that the goal of such operations is primarily to create social tension. According to the President, what matters is not only whether one side or another is supported, but also whether it is possible to divide society.
Other government officials have also commented on the possibility of foreign influence. Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček stated that he does not know where the campaign is being directed, but he did not rule out the possibility of foreign involvement. Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar also admitted the possibility of hybrid activities by other states, including Russia. The case also involves the historical issue of the so-called Czech-Polish territorial debt. This relates to the adjustment of the Czechoslovak-Polish border in 1958. During those changes, there were dozens of adjustments to the course of the border, and a subsequent comparison of territorial changes revealed that Czechoslovakia retained approximately 368 hectares more. In 1992, both sides agreed on a solution to this issue.
However, the current disinformation campaign has placed this historical fact in a completely different context, presenting it as a current Polish demand for Czech territory. According to Czech officials, this type of manipulation poses a security risk because it can affect not only public debate but also relations between the Czech Republic and Poland. Therefore, Babiš's criticism of intelligence services may have a broader impact than just the specific case of fake news. It raises the question of whether security institutions are able to quickly identify and provide the government with information about campaigns that could impact the country's security and its foreign relations.