Czech Constitutional Court rejects appeal over denial of Soviet responsibility for Katyn massacre

The Czech Constitutional Court (ÚS) has rejected an appeal by former Communist Party deputy leader Josef Skála, who was convicted for denying Soviet responsibility for the 1940 Katyn massacre. Skála received an eight-month suspended sentence, as did two others involved in a 2020 radio discussion where they questioned Soviet culpability for the massacre.

The court ruled that freedom of speech is not absolute and cannot justify denying established historical facts. The judges stated that the discussion aimed to rehabilitate communist-era crimes and spread pro-Soviet propaganda, which undermines democratic principles.