Koudelka became a major general. Pavel appointed new generals at the Castle

Today at the Prague Castle, President Petr Pavel promoted Brigadier General Michal Koudelka, director of the Security Information Service (BIS), to major general after a year at the suggestion of the government. On the occasion of Victory Day, the head of state appointed another 11 soldiers, policemen and firefighters as generals.

The head of counterintelligence, Koudelka, was appointed brigadier general by the president a year ago. Pavlo’s predecessor at Prague Castle, Miloš Zeman, who was strongly critical of Koudelk and the BIS, refused to comply with a similar government proposal seven times before.

After the ceremony, the President said that being appointed general or promoted to the higher rank of general is a very prestigious day for every woman or man in uniform and the fulfillment of long years of work and preparation. “But it is also an expression of responsibility, responsibility not only to the people and entities you will manage, but also responsibility to the political leadership of your departments,” he told the generals. He added that he does not mean personal loyalty to specific politicians, but loyalty to the country and an effort to provide the best possible professional advice to its leadership. The president also thanked the wives and partners of the generals.

After his promotion, Koudelka thanked all the generals present for the appreciation of his work and that of his subordinates. He added that the current complex security situation related to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the attack of the terrorist organization Hamas on Israel and the growing tension between China and Taiwan strengthens the responsibility of the high function. “Perhaps it is clear to everyone that the current situation is extremely complex and affects us more than we would like,” he said. According to him, it is then logical that citizens turn to the security forces with greater trust and expectations than before.

The director of the General Inspection of the Security Forces (GIBS) Vít Hendrych, who became the head of the GIBS last September, became a brigadier general. He replaced Radim Dragoun, whose five-year term of office ended in August, and at the same time he won the selection process for the position of Olomouc chief prosecutor.

Pavel appointed the former director of the Military Intelligence (VZ) Jiří Růžek to the rank of retired brigadier general at the suggestion of the Minister of Defense Jana Černochová (ODS). He also appointed the director of the Military Health Section of the Ministry of Defense Michal Baran, the commander of cyber forces and information operations Radek Haratek, the chief of staff of the Operations Command Martin Janatka and the commander of the fourth rapid deployment brigade Jiří Líbal as brigadier generals.

At the proposal of the Minister of the Interior Vít Rakušan (STAN), the president appointed as brigadier generals the head of the operations center of the police presidium, František Habad, the director of the Special Activities Unit of the Police, Milan Černek, the director of the South Moravian Fire Department, Jiří Pelikán, the commander of the Prague Castle Fire Protection Department, Radek Stránský, and the retired brigadier general of the former director Office for Foreign Relations and Information (ÚZSI) Petr Zeman.

Pavel also appointed Petar Červené, the director of the Příbram Prison, as Brigadier General, at the suggestion of the Minister of Justice Pavel Blažek (ODS).

The President appoints soldiers, policemen and firefighters to the rank of general twice a year, on the day of the establishment of independent Czechoslovakia on October 28 and on the occasion of Victory Day on May 8.