Christian Democrats call on president to reconsider Moscow visit

The smallest party in the ruling coalition, the Christian Democrats, have called on President Zeman to reconsider a planned visit to Moscow marking the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. Mr Zeman accepted an invitation by the Kremlin to attend, saying a failure to do so would be an insult to the 150,000 Russian soldiers who died liberating Czechoslovakia. Many EU heads-of-state will not be attending in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea and continued intervention in Ukraine. Christian Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Bělobrádek said his party viewed the visit as inappropriate under the circumstances of Russian intervention and alleged himan rights violations. The president's spokesman has already responded, making clear the president had no intention of changing his plans. Other leaders who have confirmed attendance in Moscow on May 9 include North Korea's Kim Jong-un - on his first foreign visit.