Prague, Jan 6 (CTK) – A Prague district court rejected yesterday a legal complaint against the Communist Party (KSCM) and its MP Marta Semelova over her statements about the judicial murder of democratic politician Milada Horakova and the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia.
The court´s decision can be appealed.
The complaint was filed by lawyer and politician Michal Kincl (TOP 09) who demanded a written apology clearly stating that the invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968, which crushed the communist-led reform movement, was an occupation and that the totalitarian communist regime (1948-89) persecuted many people.
Two years ago, Semelova, as a quest to a public Czech TV programme, expressed doubts as to whether Horakova´s confession in the show trial had been enforced.
Horakova (1901-1950), a lawyer by profession, was sentenced to death on the basis of fabricated charges of treason and espionage by the communist regime and executed on June 27, 1950. She became the only woman put to death in the country for political reasons.
Semelova also said on TV the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia was no occupation, but an international help, and that communist high functionary Vasil Bilak, one of the signatories of the letter inviting the Warsaw Pact troops to the country, was a positive figure in Czechoslovak history.
“It is good that the defendant (Semelova) utters these things laud, so that we may know what she thinks and that she thereby reminds us of the times the return of which the complainant fears,” the district court´s judge said.
He added that Kincl must persuade the voters that what Semelova said was untrue. However, the complaint is not substantiated since it is not possible to demand this way that Semelova say what she does not think, the judge concluded.
The police stated previously that Semelova´s statements cannot be qualified as a crime.
Kincl argues in his complaint that Semelova´s statements shocked him as a citizen and that he “felt anxiety and fear of a possible restoration of the criminal totalitarian communist regime.”
Semelova, for her part, says Kincl is attempting to restrict the freedom of speech and that she insists on her opinions.
The opposition KSCM called the complaint expedient. It said Kincl, a municipal representative, had used it in his election campaign.
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