Representative Thinlay Chukki Meets Czech Republic Officials in Prague & Strengthen Advocacy Ties

A Tibetan delegation led by Representative Thinlay Chukki, alongsideTibet Brief 20/20author Michael van Walt van Praag and UN Advocacy Officer Phuntsok Tobgyal from the Office of Tibet in Geneva, held a series of high-level meetings in Prague with officials from the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and key policy institutions.

The delegation met with Barbora Cardona Ševčíková, Head of the International Organisations Unit; Dr Hana Brodská, UN Human Rights Agenda Coordinator; and Ivana Grollová from the Unit for Strategy and Analysis. Discussions centred on the upcoming events marking the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet, and the erosion of religious freedom and cultural identity under current Chinese policies. The delegation called for greater international cooperation to address these urgent issues.

Later, the delegation met with Robert Řehák, Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues, Interfaith Dialogue, and Freedom of Religion. The conversation focused on the increasing surveillance of Tibetan Buddhist practitioners as well as broader religious and cultural repression in Tibet. The delegation urged enhanced international efforts to safeguard religious freedom and cultural heritage inside Tibet.

In the afternoon, the delegation met with Czech Senator Pavel Fischer—former director of STEM and current member of the Forum 2000 conference. Senator Fischer reaffirmed the Czech Republic’s strong support for the Tibetan cause, referencing the nation’s enduring commitment to human rights and democracy. The dialogue touched on China’s repressive policies in Tibet, their global implications, and potential strategies for advancing Tibetan rights within a shifting geopolitical landscape.

Copies of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s latest book,Voice for the Voiceless, were presented to Czech officials and parliamentarians as a gesture of gratitude and solidarity.

At 4:30 PM, the delegation met with Zdeněk Bečánek, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic. The discussion highlighted the upcoming World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet (WPCT) in Japan, stressing the critical role of parliamentary advocacy in the international campaign for justice, freedom, and dignity for the Tibetan people.

The Tibetan delegation expressed deep appreciation for the steadfast support from Czech officials and parliamentarians and reiterated their hope for continued collaboration to raise global awareness of the challenges facing Tibet.