Security committee should discuss Zeman’s intel request: Rakušan

The chairman of the Mayors and Independents, Vít Rakušan, has proposed to the chair of the Committee on Security within the Chamber Deputies that it look into allegations that President Miloš Zeman asked the Czech civilian counterintelligence service (BIS) for sensitive information regarding Russian agents and operations in Czechia. The president’s request could endanger the international standing of the service, Mr. Rakušan told the media on Tuesday.

On Monday, Czech Radio’s iRozhlas.cz cited unnamed sources that claim the president is requesting BIS provide him with information which could potentially threaten the future of its active operations and that BIS chief Michal Koudelka subsequently asked the oversight commission concerned with the counterintelligence service whether the move is legal. Several intelligence experts said that this was an unprecedented move and that agencies are normally not obligated to provide such data.