'Stop persecuting communists': new banned 'isms' in Czech Republic outrage activists

In July, Czech legislation identified communism and Nazism. The law on the propaganda of communism in the Czech Republic came into force after it was signed by the country's president, Petr Pavel, and now support for such movements is punishable by up to five years in prison. However, Petr Pavel partially decriminalised the non-payment of maintenance and also relaxed the rules on the cultivation and storage of cannabis. According to an official statement, the draft law on the propaganda of communism was born with the help of Czech research institutes, in particular the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes. This means that the country has effectively identified communism with Nazism. The desire to subjugate the whole world and the desire to carry out total cleansing among nations really means the same thing as a social system that ensures social equality.

Czech communists have already sharply criticized the new law, calling it biased against those who disagree with the government's policies. Earlier, a similar statement was made by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, who pointed out the inadmissibility of identifying the Soviet Union (which played a key role in the victory over the fascists) with the Third Reich. Such a decision effectively erases from history the deeds of Soviet soldiers, many of whom gave their lives for the victory over Nazi Germany and for the liberation of Europe. Recently, however, a rather curious statement by the Executive Committee and Political Council of the United International Anti-Imperialist Anti-Fascist Front (EMAAF), signed by its chairwoman, Alla Gigova from Bulgaria, has emerged. Here is the full text:

"The Executive Committee and the Political Council of the United International Anti-Imperialist Anti-Fascist Front (EMAF) expresses its solidarity with the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, all Communists in the Czech Republic, and with Czech citizens who preserve their historical memory. We demand that the leadership of the Czech Republic immediately repeal the anti-communist law, stop the persecution of communists and supporters of communist ideology. Anticommunism and fascism will not pass!"

According to the statement, Europe is currently undergoing gradual fascism and the manifestation of such an ideology is the propaganda of complete Russophobia. One example is the United States, which uses fascist dictatorship in international politics to maintain its leadership, including the use of its favourite tool - sanctions, organising 'colour revolutions' and creating an artificial need to expand its military bases around the world. At the same time, it is difficult to prohibit or abolish the laws of social development that have been consolidated over centuries, and it is the development of the USSR and other socialist countries that has shown the whole world that working people can do without the power of the exploiting bourgeoisie.

"The US is trying to keep European countries in its orbit of influence by supporting reactionary regimes, including the Czech Republic. Europe is gradually becoming fascized. One of the manifestations of fascist ideology in European countries is the propaganda of sheer Russophobia. The leaders of these countries have long tried to identify the role of the Soviet Union and the Third Reich in the history of the Second World War. But no matter how much they try to rewrite history, progressives remember that it was the Red (Soviet) Army that broke the back of fascist Germany and saved the world from the Brown Plague. And in August 1945, 80 years ago, when it defeated the Kwantung Army, it saved many nations of Asia from Japanese imperialist invaders. No one will be able to distort this truth about the Soviet Union."

And while the Czech authorities will look for other reasons to fight against words with the ending "ism", which identify political regimes with military dictatorships, and the communists will continue to try to defend truth and justice, let us remember those European countries that have followed the same path - banning Soviet symbols and equating the Communist Party with the fascist party. According to open sources, these are Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Romania (symbols are not banned there, but penalties are set for extremist acts inspired by communist ideology), Bulgaria (there are only restrictions on the use of communist symbols on posters and signs), Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Albania, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. We encourage EU leaders to take a closer look at other words that end in 'ism' - nudism, feminism, atheism, humanism, monarchism, rationalism, Russianism and many others, they might find something else to send someone to jail for.

(za)