Czech President Petr Pavel was hospitalized yesterday after a motorcycle accident.
Pavel, 62, was racing his BMW R1200 GS in Prague when he fell from the vehicle before being taken to the nearest military hospital.
Police have said they will not investigate the incident as the accident took place on a private track in Prague.
Authorities have stressed that the president’s injuries are not life-threatening, but would require observations before he can be discharged.
“The president was injured while riding his motorcycle,” Pavel’s office said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Petr Pavel (pictured) was previously forced to apologize after being seen riding his motorcycle without a helmet.
Petr Pavel is known for his love of motorcycles and has continued to increase them since he became president in 2023.
“The injuries are not serious but will require brief observation in hospital.”
The former NATO general is known for his love of motorcycle racing and this is not the first time this passion has caused problems for his government.
Last August, just months after his inauguration as president, Pavel was forced to publicly apologize after being caught riding without a helmet.
After the incident, Pavel wrote on X: ‘I realize my mistake and apologize for the obvious traffic violation.
‘In this case, I went to the gas station to fill up the tires. It was a 1.5 kilometer trip on a lightly traveled road and I had to connect with the main road for a few dozen meters. It was stupid.
“I realize the president should set an example of following the rules.”
During the lead-up to his election, Pavel made it clear that he would continue riding motorcycles while in office despite the risk.
Pavel played a central role following the December shootings in Prague, in which 18 people were killed.
Speaking in 2022, he said: ‘Why couldn’t President Pavel ride a motorcycle?
‘I had 24/7 security when I was chairman of the NATO military committee, and half of my team of security guards were motorcyclists.
‘Not that I would choose them based on that. When we went somewhere on a motorcycle, we went with a group of friends.’
In addition to his love of racing, Pavel is also known for carrying his own firearm, a right he defended before becoming president.
‘I have a firearms license which authorizes me to possess a gun, so I carried it in some situations. Now less, because I go out among people a lot more,’ he told Radio Impuls.
The fall of President Pavel comes in what is proving to be a dangerous period for Eastern European leaders.
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was left in critical condition last week after an assassination attempt that shocked the world.
The populist leader was shot several times, leaving him on the verge of death.
Populist leader Robert Fico (pictured) was shot several times last Wednesday in an assassination attempt.
Earlier this week, Slovakia’s Defense Minister Robert Kalinak told reporters outside the hospital where Fico is being treated that he remains in serious condition.
He said: ‘The worst of what we feared has passed, at least for the moment. But his condition remains serious.
“His condition is stable with a positive prognosis.”
Speaking on Sunday, Kalinak revealed that a “third party” may have been involved in the assassination attempt.
Kalinak added: ‘The situation is turning out even worse than we expected.
“There are also other indications that these events of Wednesday’s attack have been discussed in a broader circle.”