Praha 1 received a fine of 150,000 crowns for the winged lion

Prague - Prague 1 has received a fine from the city’s heritage officials for placing a memorial to pilots, known as the winged lion, at Klárov. The fine is 150,000 crowns, and the city’s decision is not yet legally binding. This was confirmed to ČTK by the spokesperson for Prague 1, Veronika Blažková, and the spokesperson for the city, Petra Hrubá. The city hall allegedly violated the law by not having the necessary permission from the heritage officials for the placement of the statue.
    "I can confirm the fine. We do not agree with it and will appeal. I will not comment further at this time," Blažková told ČTK. Thus, the final word will belong to the Ministry of Culture, which serves as the appellate body in this case.
    "In no way do we want to devalue the memorial to Czechoslovak pilots; however, we believe it is essential to comply with applicable laws, not to circumvent them. The mayor and some councilors should set an example for adhering to clear administrative procedures," Hrubá said in response to ČTK's inquiry.
    The statue, in the form of a two-meter winged lion, is placed on a concrete pedestal covered with granite. The funds for the statue were raised by the British living in the Czech Republic according to the design by British sculptor Colin Spofforth, wanting to express gratitude for the heroism of Czechoslovak pilots serving in the ranks of the British RAF.
    The placement of the monument has been accompanied by disputes with Prague's heritage officials from the beginning. They object to the monumentality of the piece and the fact that there is already one statue in the park. They also criticize the approach of Prague 1 and the British Embassy, claiming they applied for permission too late and without sufficient discussion. They offered other locations in the center of Prague.
    Czech and Slovak pilots have made their mark in the memory of the inhabitants of the United Kingdom, particularly during the famous Battle of Britain. During this battle, the Nazis suffered their first significant defeat of World War II. Overall, approximately 2,500 Czechoslovak pilots served in the British Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II, with 493 of them losing their lives in combat.