Saturday marks 70th anniversary of execution of Milada Horáková

Saturday is the 70th anniversary of the execution of politician Milada Horáková by Czechoslovakia’s Communist regime following a show trial. While the Communists put nearly 180 people to death for political reasons, Horáková – who had been active in the resistance during the war – was the only woman to meet that fate, following a show trial.

A major civic campaign has placed her image on public buildings with the words Killed by Communists. The same message was projected onto the headquarters of the present-day Communist Party in Prague from midnight Friday to around 6 a.m., the time of her hanging on June 27, 1950. That date is now Commemoration Day for the Victims of the Communist Regime in the Czech Republic.

Saturday also saw a celebration of her legacy at a monument to Milada Horáková in Prague. At another event at the city's memorial to the victims of communism, Senate speaker Miloš Vystrčil said truth, rectitude and justice had meant more to her than her own life.