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The month of August was nothing if not turbulent for the Czech National Theatre, which saw its new director recalled from his position on day one by the government, before uproar led to his hasty reinstatement. His return – and the guarantee the theatre will retain its independence – means most actors who quit in protest came back for the new season.

In a chilling echo of the past, Russian police on Sunday arrested a group of human rights activists commemorating the 45th anniversary of a 1968 protest against the Russian-led invasion of Czechoslovakia. Although the protesters were reportedly detained for taking part in an unsanctioned demonstration and soon released, the move has evoked widespread condemnation in Prague.

Police in a number of Czech towns and cities are gearing up for more anti-Romany protests at the weekend. Marches by the ultra-right in troubled areas will aim to tap into growing anti-Roma sentiment. Extremists are also trying to increase anger through slanderous articles on the internet.

On Wednesday, Czechs marked the 45th anniversary of the Soviet-led invasion that crushed the period of reforms known as the Prague Spring. They weren’t alone: reaction also came from Sofia, where artists overnight anonymously sprayed an infamous Soviet-era monument pink. With the words ‘Bulharsko se omlouvá’, they apologised for Bulgaria’s role in the 1968 invasion, a gesture that did not go unnoticed and made world headlines.

Czech President Miloš Zeman is due to formally dissolve the lower house of Parliament on August 28, with an early general election likely to take place by the end of October. That gives political parties two months to reach their voters. Some of them are wasting no time and have already begun campaigning.

Wednesday marks the 45th anniversary of the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the armies of the Soviet Union and other communist countries. The invasion shocked the nation, and ushered in a long period of political and moral decline. More than a hundred people died during the invasion, some of whom were killed in defence of Czechoslovak Radio. On Wednesday, several Czech top officials, witnesses and dozens of guests marked the anniversary outside the Czech Radio building in central Prague.

MPs on Tuesday voted to dissolve the lower house of Parliament for the first time in the Czech Republic’s history. With 140 votes supporting the motion lawmakers opened the door to early elections, following months of political crisis.

A number of Czech travel agencies have sped up the return of clients from Egypt, cutting vacation stays short for fear that growing violence and unrest in Cairo and other cities could spread. Although life at seaside resorts in Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh has continued as normal, the majority of Czech tourists are to return this week. Not all understand why their vacation was cut short.

The dissolution of the lower house of Parliament would leave the country without a Chamber of Deputies for the first time in its modern history. Under the Constitution this would mean a shift of power to the country’s caretaker government, the Senate and the president who would jointly have the right to pass provisional legislation in running the country.

With the lower house due to vote on its dissolution on Tuesday, there has been a great deal of speculation regarding how this development will affect given political parties and who may or may not support the motion. But how does the public feel about early elections, the rule of the caretaker government and the highly publicized possibility of ex-president Vaclav Klaus returning to active politics. A flash poll conducted jointly by the Agencies Median and STEM/MARK indicates that above all Czechs want change and they want it fast. I called the