Prague, July 27 (CTK) – The Czech government approved the appointment of Michal Koudelka, 51, as the new head of the BIS civilian counter-intelligence service on Wednesday, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD) has written on Twitter.
Koudelka, a long-time BIS officer, will replace Jiri Lang, 58, who asked for dismissal in early June, on August 15.
Koudelka graduated from the Czech Technical University (CVUT) in Prague. He started working in the BIS in 1994. He has headed its counter-espionage section for ten years.
The lower house security committee recommended Koudelka for the post of BIS chief unanimously in mid-July.
Koudelka told the committee that he had not been a member of the pre-1989 Communist Party (KSC).
Sobotka, who proposed Koudelka for the post on behalf of the government, expressed satisfaction with his appointment on Twitter on Wednesday.
“High-quality work of intelligence services is important at the times of intensifying security threats,”” Sobotka wrote.
He said previously that Koudelka had sufficient professional and human experience for occupying the post of BIS head.
Outgoing Lang called Koudelka a successful manager.
Koudelka said he considered the protection of all inhabitants of the Czech Republic from security threats his priority.
He also told the lower house committee that he would like the BIS to be apolitical and professional, act strictly in compliance with law and be able to promptly react to possible threats to the Czech Republic.
