Czechia bans communist ideology propaganda and equates it with Nazism

The new law amends the Czech Criminal Code to criminalize the propaganda of communist ideology, putting it on a par with Nazi propaganda.

The updated legislation introduces a penalty of up to five years in prison for anyone who creates, supports, or promotes Nazi, communist, or other movements that are aimed at suppressing human rights and freedoms or inciting racial, ethnic, national, religious, or class hatred.

The change follows calls from Czech historical institutions, including the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, to correct what they see as a legal imbalance.

Russian Nazi propaganda

Russia has recently been systematically using the rhetoric of fighting Nazism as a propaganda tool to justify its aggressive actions against other countries. In the case of Ukraine, since the beginning of 2014, the Russian authorities have been actively spreading the thesis of an alleged Nazi regime in Kyiv.

The tactic is aimed not only at the domestic audience in Russia but also at the international community, trying to discredit Ukraine in the eyes of other countries. Such accusations are groundless and are intended to divert attention from the imperialist ambitions of Russia and violations of international law.

In January, the PACE called on the dictatorial regimes in Belarus and Russia not to manipulate the theme of fighting Nazism to justify their geopolitical ambitions.