Ústav pro studium totalitních režimů

Laying of flowers at the monument of Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc

In the day of 43rd anniversary of the death of Jan Palach the representatives of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes laid the flowers at the monument of Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc in the front of the National Museum in Prague.

In this place Jan Palach, a student of Charles University, set himself on fire on 16 January 1969. Three days later Jan Palach died due to extensive burns in a hospital.

Exhibition Jan Palach´69 in the library of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University

Exhibition was open on 16 January 2012 in the Center of learning and information services of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of Jan Palach´s act. Exhibition recalls the act of Jan Palach who set himself on fire and the exceptional response to this act. Organizers of the exhibition are the Faculty of Arts of Charles University and the National Museum. Partners of the exhibition are the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, Security Services Archive and other institutions.

First visit of the President of the Senate in Institute and Archive

President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Milan Štěch and the Vice-chairman of the Senate Alena Palečková visited the Intitute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes and Security Services Archive in Prague on 13 January 2012. Senators visited the research center, digitizing and screening workplace and were familiar with work processes and objectives of both institutions.

Web portal about Jan Palach

Website janpalach.cz (janpalach.eu), incurred as a result of the multimedia project of Charles University, were launched on 16 January 2012. Partners in this project are the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, Security Services Archive and other institutions. Various commemorative events are held on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of Jan Palach’s act. In the main building of Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague you can see an exhibition „Jan Palach’69“.

Exhibition “Voice of Freedom – Radio Free Europe in the Cold World Era” in Slovenia

Kranj (Slovenia), January 10, 2012 - The exhibition Voice of Freedom – Radio Free Europe in the Cold War Era was opened in Gorenjski Museum in Kranj on January 10, 2012. Exhibition was prepared by the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes together with the Czech Center in Munich, Military History Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians- Universität in Munich and Study Center for National Reconciliation in Ljubljana.

The exhibition was opened by the director of Gorenjski Museum Marija Ogrin, the director of Study Center for National Reconcilation Andrea Valič, the director of Editorial Deparment of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes Michal Hroza and the deputy Major of city Kranj Bojan Homan. The exhibition is held under the auspices of the Major of city Kranj Mohor Bogataj and the Ambassador of Czech Republic in Slovenia Dr. Petr Voznica.

Institut released a new publications

• Magazine Securitas Imperii: 19th issue of the magazine has an monothematic form. It focuses on the persecution of churches and religious organizations especially by the Czechoslovak communist regime in the 40th and 60th years of the 20th century.
• Revue Memory and History: In the last issue of 2011 the study of Václav Veber recalls the anniversary of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
• Book of Martin Tichý titled „Called him grandpa. Story of anti-communist group Bayer and Co.“: Book gives partial analysis of anti-communist activities in Czechoslovakia in the 40th and 50th years of the 20th century.
• Monograph of Pavel Kreisinger titled „Brigadier general Josef Bartík. Intelligence officer and the participiant of the first and second Czechoslovak resistance“: Monograph deals with the difficult life destinies of Brigadier general Josef Bartík (1897-1968), officer of the intelligence eleven of František Moravec.
• Collection of the texts from an international conference „ Crimes of communist regimes“: Collection brings more than 40 contributions of historians and legal experts from around the world.

Václav Havel died

Former Czechoslovak and first Czech President Václav Havel died on Sunday 18.12.2011 at the age of 75 years. Václav Havel was born 5th of October 1936 in Prague. He became one of the symbols of the fall of communism in Europe and was a tireless fighter for freedom, democracy and human rights throughout the world. Václav Havel served as Czechoslovak and then as Czech President for more than 12 years.

As a sign of mourning was hoisted a black flag at the headquartes of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes in Prague.

Director of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes will launch an exhibition „Miracle of St.Agnes- November 1989“

Prague, December 6, 2011 - Director of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes will launch an exhibition titled „Miracle of St.Agnes- November 1989“ in Rome. The exhibition will be held at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome from 6th of December 2011 till 15th of January 2012.