Russian documentary The Warsaw Pact, depicting the events of the Prague Spring of 1968, has caused outrage in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It justifies the Warsaw Pact’s invasion of Czechoslovakia, even though all parties know that it was an act of aggression.
In response to this blatant distortion of the events in Prague, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek demanded clarifications from the Russian ambassador to the Czech Republic. “The minister asked him why, after so many years during which not only representatives of the USSR, but the modern Russian government as well apologized for this occupation, such a documentary could appear on the Russian state TV,” the Czech foreign ministry’s spokesperson Michaela Lagronova told Radio Liberty in an interview.
Meanwhile, the Slovak MFA’s statement stresses: “Broadcasting of a documentary that tries to rewrite history and falsify facts about so dark a chapter of our past, is harmful for the Russian-Slovak relations.”
In this context, St. Petersburg city councilor Boris Vishnevsky has offered an accurate assessment of what is happening in relations between Russia and the former countries of the socialist camp. “One can easily understand their outrage, especially since it is totally justified. However, did they really think that supporting Vladimir Putin and opposing EU sanctions against Russian officials and Russian companies after the annexation of Crimea and intervention in Ukraine would protect them from such steps by the ‘big brother’? Did they forget that the Soviet government was never known for its respect for various satellites? Thus, they got hit in full accordance with that old saying ‘No good deed goes unpunished,’” he posted in his blog on the Echo of Moscow broadcaster’s website.
The Day turned to political analyst of Lidove Noviny Daniel KAISER for a comment on the Czech government and public’s responses to the film.
“It is unusual for the Czech Republic to respond to such incidents at all. The Czech side never responded to anything broadcast by foreign TV channels before.
“In fact, the Russians are trying to rewrite history with this film even as they try to solve their issues by doing so. In this case, though, the film has been a disservice to Russia. The documentary has angered the Czechs against the Russians even more. Such events also weaken the internal position of the Czech President Milos Zeman, who holds pro-Russian views.
“Pro-Russian sentiments exist also within the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia. Their official view of history maintains that the Soviet invasion of 1968 was a tragic mistake, although I do not think they really believe it. However, the Communists express sympathy for Russia, so these people have no need to revise what they think about the current Putinist regime.
“Still, I see no serious threat from films of this kind for the Czech or any other European society. I think they are more dangerous for... Russian youths, since the latter lack opportunities to study history well.”
