Compensation claims for communist-era forced emigration open in September

From September, people pressured by Czechoslovakia’s communist regime to leave the country will be able to claim compensation of CZK 100,000. The Interior Ministry has prepared an application form and guidance, expecting 100–400 applicants. The payment applies regardless of whether the person actually emigrated. The law, signed by President Petr Pavel in July, aims to compensate victims of operations such as the StB’s “Asanace” campaign in the late 1970s and 1980s, which used physical and psychological pressure to force dissenters into exile. Applications can be submitted until the end of 2026, with decisions made within 90 days. Denied claims can be challenged in court.