mysql>
mysql> set names utf8;
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec)

mysql> create table test ( coll char(1));
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec)

mysql> insert into test values ('á');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)

mysql> insert into test values ('č');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)

mysql> select 'á' = 'a';
+------------+
| 'á' = 'a' |
+------------+
|          1 |
+------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> select 'č' = 'c';
+------------+
| 'č' = 'c' |
+------------+
|          1 |
+------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> select * from test where coll='a';
+------+
| coll |
+------+
| á   |
+------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> select * from test where coll='c';
Empty set (0.00 sec)

mysql> select version();
+----------------------+
| version()            |
+----------------------+
| 4.1.10a-Debian_6-log |
+----------------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

mysql>