Former communist-era secret police officers given suspended sentences for persecuting Czech actor

Two former officers of Czechoslovakia's communist-era secret police (StB), who persecuted actor Tomáš Töpfer because of his political views and Jewish background, have received two-year suspended prison sentences under plea agreements with prosecutors. The agreements were approved by a court and are now final.

Töpfer, who took part in the criminal proceedings as the injured party, did not seek any compensation.

The court found that StB officer in question and his superior abused their authority by taking part in an operation codenamed Artist in the city of Ústí nad Labem between 1978 and 1984. At the time, Töpfer was an actor at the local drama theatre.

The StB monitored not only his work in the theatre, but also his activities in television and radio. According to the court, he was targeted because he expressed views critical of the socialist regime, distributed anti-state publications, and was of Jewish origin.