Former Communist Party leader ordered to apologize for false accusation

A Prague appeals court has ruled that former Communist Party chairman Vojtěch Filip must issue a formal apology to the civic group Milion chvilek for falsely linking it to a cyberattack on the Benešov hospital six years ago. The verdict, finalized after intervention by the Constitutional Court, confirms that even organizations are entitled to protection of their reputation under updated case law.

Filip must send a written apology within one month of the ruling taking effect. He will also be required to cover the group’s legal costs, with the exact amount to be specified in the court’s written decision.