The speaker of the Czech parliament’s lower house, Tomio Okamura, has said the Czech Republic should consider resuming imports of Russian gas and oil to tackle high energy and fuel prices, arguing that such supplies still reach Europe indirectly.
Speaking on a weekend political programme, the leader of the right-wing Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party called for a diversification of energy sources, including renewed access to Russian resources, as a way to strengthen national energy security.
He maintained that the priority should be ensuring the lowest possible energy costs for households and businesses.
Okamura also warned that the war in Iran could heighten the risk of a broader energy crisis, adding urgency to the need for stable and affordable supplies.
The Czech Republic significantly reduced its dependence on Russian energy following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, Okamura argued that Russian oil and gas continue to flow into Europe through alternative routes.
