Plzeň's 'darling of Russian propaganda' won't run for council again

Jakub Zieba, a 27-year-old council member for Plzeň's first municipal district who has become known as the "darling of Russian state propaganda," will not run for re-election to the city council. He currently lives in Russia and, according to fellow party members, has no plans to return to Czechia for now.

The news outlet Novinky tried to contact Zieba directly, but he did not respond to messages sent to either his work or personal email. "It's Jakub's choice. But in my opinion, he's a capable person who could have achieved a lot in politics," said Martin Dittrich, chairman of the district party club for Plzeň-město.

A council member without a council seat

Dittrich admitted that one sticking point was Zieba's long absence from meetings of the first municipal district's council — he stopped attending, even remotely, yet kept receiving his allowance. Under current law, council members had no way to recall him. "That wasn't right. It's certainly better to live in Plzeň and be among people. I myself often have to answer residents' questions when I run into them," Dittrich noted.

"It looks like he doesn't want to return to Czechia for now," Dittrich added about the 27-year-old council member. In February this year, council members adopted a resolution distancing themselves from Zieba's public statements and pro-Russian activities and calling on him to stop immediately.

Darling of Russian propaganda

The Plzeň resident regularly posts on social media and appears on Russian television. "He's become a huge darling of Russian state propaganda. They invite him onto various shows, interview him. He portrays the country as beautiful and thriving — basically paradise on earth," security analyst Roman Máca warned earlier.

Zieba strongly denies spreading propaganda, but according to the analyst, there is no doubt whatsoever that he does. Political scientist and Russia expert Karel Svoboda, from Charles University's Faculty of Social Sciences, shares a similar view: "The intelligence services are certainly interested in him." According to Svoboda, Zieba doesn't just admire Russia — he also lures Czechs there: "He presents the country as a perfect, wonderful place, but of course doesn't show the whole reality."

Source: novinky.cz