MPs approve proposal to compensate victims of August 1969 state violence

MPs have approved a proposal to compensate victims of state violence that occurred during August 1969 demonstrations marking the anniversary of the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia.

Apart from two out of four Communist Party representatives, all legislators present on Wednesday voted in favour of the proposal, which the government earlier rejected.

The proposal would give CZK 200,000 to the relatives of 5 people who died during the demonstrations, CZK 90,000 to 5 people who suffered permanent injuries, and CZK 40,000 to 26 people who suffered less serve injuries.

However, since some historians assume there was a higher number of victims, the bill provides for compensation of up to to CZK 4.5 million.