Klinika

The building was first occupied in 2014 as part of a housing rights demonstration. It was quickly evicted. A campaign then began which resulted in the Finance Minister offering a one year rent-free contract, which began on March 2, 2015. When the contract was not prolonged, the centre simply reverted to being squatted again after a solidarity demonstration of 2,000 people.^[1] In 2016 the owner, the Office for Government Representation in Property Affairs (Úřad pro zastupování státu ve věcech majetkových – ÚZSVM), claimed the centre needed to be evicted because it was required for a different use, although no permits had been issued.^[2]

Klinika was used by many different groups. It had a concert space, infoshop, library, bar and a large garden. Regular events included a community laundry, a creche, language lessons and solidarity events.^[1][3]

After demonstrations both for and against migration on February 6 2016, Klinika was attacked by a group of neo-Nazis. The next day there was a solidarity demonstration attended by 400 people.^[4] A spokesperson for the project said “We sent 150 carloads of clothes and other things to Hungary, Croatia, Serbia – wherever we could help. We don’t have many refugees in the Czech Republic, so Klinika acts as a lightning rod for the anger in Czech society towards them.”^[5] A court ruling then closed the centre but on appeal it was reopened again after a few weeks.^[6]

The centre was evicted in January 2019, despite the political support of Czech Young Greens and Democracy in Europe Movement 2025.^[7][8] Unlike previous evictions, this time the building was then secured and not resquatted.^[9][10] The authorities calculated the cost of the eviction as 1,640,000 Czech crowns (64,400 euros) and are attempting to recover the money from a member of the collective.^[11]