Minister Naď remembers the victims of the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď paid tribute to the victims of the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in a ceremony held in Bratislava's Šafárik Square today (19 August 2022). In the presence of Slovakia's three highest constitutional representatives, the commemoration marked the 54th anniversary of this tragic historical event.

Speaking on the occasion, Jaroslav Naď said: “The occupation of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact armies trampled on whatever efforts there were to liberalise and democratise the socialist regime. Yet, letʼs not forget that our Ukrainian friends who are fighting the Russian aggression are experiencing a far worse reality. Even there today, as with Czechoslovakia half a century ago, the occupiers are destroying ordinary people's dreams and hopes for a better future.”

Due to the occupation, at least 400 Czechs and Slovaks lost their lives, including the three young people who were shot dead by Soviet Army soldiers at the Comenius University building in Šafárik Square, Naď noted.

“Therefore, letʼs offer our respects to their memory, which is to remind us of how important it is to stand up against unfreedom, injustice and suppression, while holding onto democratic values,” Naď concluded.

The Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, code-named Operation Danube, began on the night of 20-21 August 1968. Early in the morning at 01:55hrs on 21 August 1968, the Chairmanship of the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Communist Party informed the citizens of the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact armies.

Alongside the Soviet Army, the military intervention into Czechoslovakia involved troops from Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland and East Germany. It was aimed at normalising the relations and putting a stop to the democratisation of society. The first days of the invasion claimed dozens of victims and hundreds were injured as they protested against the occupation forces in different ways. The occupation of Czechoslovakia lasted well up to 1991. The drawdown of Soviet troops from Czechoslovakia took 16 months to complete.