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On 30 September 2026, Minister of the Environment Igor Červený filed a criminal complaint against an unknown perpetrator with the High Public Prosecutor's Office in Prague. The complaint concerns a contaminated area in the former military zone of Zhůří in the Klatovy region of the Šumava. The Ministry of the Environment reported this in a press release.[1][2][3]
Reason for the complaint
According to the minister, the filing is meant to help establish the circumstances under which the area became contaminated. Červený stated that if someone neglected their duties in the past, resulting in an environmental burden and damages running into hundreds of millions of crowns, law enforcement authorities must investigate the matter.[1][2][3] According to the ministry, the offense of negligent dereliction of duty by a public official may also have been committed.[1] Police had already begun examining the case on suspicion of negligent endangerment and negligent damage to and endangerment of the environment.[1]
Background
In early September 2026, Červený announced that the area contained approximately 1,000 tonnes of contaminated soil and 200 barrels of hazardous chemicals. In mid-September, the army began an engineering and chemical survey of the area.[1][2][3] According to an earlier statement by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, the army is to secure the site to prevent the substances from spreading further into the soil, after which a contractor will be selected to carry out the remediation. The minister originally estimated costs at approximately 192 million crowns, with remediation expected to last until June 2028. The ministry has now stated that costs will exceed 150 million crowns.[1][2][3]
Related articles: Zhůří
Chronology
- — Environment Minister Igor Červený filed a criminal complaint over contaminated land in the former military area of Zhůří in the Klatovy region. ČTK / České noviny iDNES.cz
Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 30 September 2026
- iDNES.cz — 30 September 2026
- Lidovky.cz — 30 September 2026