A building near the National Theatre on Smetanovo nábřeží in central Prague that was damaged by a gas explosion a year ago, was sold in an electronic auction. Lázeňská investiční, owned by two businessmen, Jozef Onderka and Gabriel Fülöp, paid more than CZK 210m for the building.
The sale by the state-controlled owner, Řízení letového provozu, triggered protests from Charles University and the Academy of Arts, which were hoping to buy the building. The universities offered to pay an estimated CZK 210m for the property, which they planned to refurbish and use. Universities, however, are not allowed under Czech law to buy properties at auctions.
