1989 Chronology

1989: repressive interventions by state authorities

January 9, 1989

For participation in an October 28, 1988 demonstration, Jan Křivan, electrical engineer and Charter 77 signatory from Roudnice nad Labem, is convicted by the Prague 1 Circuit Court.

January 13, 1989

General Lieutenant František Kincl decrees in his Minister of the Interior of the ČSSR’s order no. 2/1989 (the highest in history) level 4 exceptional security measures to ensure peace and order on the territory of the capital city of Prague and the Central Bohemian Region during the period from 6:00 a.m. January 13 through January 25, 1989, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the death of Jan Palach. For the duration of this period, the Minister orders the establishment of operational teams to coordinate security measures, the activization of “agent-operative resources,” the carrying out of rigorous monitoring of select citizens, and the organization of preventive measures against groups of “defective youth” (the Communists’ term for any youth independent-minded enough to be considered a threat to their strictly guarded social order). The decree fortifies the number of servicemen maintaining order on the streets from January 14-15 and 21-22 by 1,300 servicemen of the People’s Militia (Lidové milice); 200 still studying SNB (Sbor národní bezpečnosti – National Security Corps) servicemen are further detached for the operation. The readiness or standby of SNB servicemen is also set to be announced, depending on the development of the security situation.

January 15, 1989

Roughly 3500 SNB servicemen and People’s Militia close down Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square) the afternoon of January 15, in order to choke off a commemmorative gathering on the 20th anniversary of Jan Palach’s self-immolation. An unrestrained anti-regime demonstration on neighboring streets is brutally suppressed; 117 citizens are arrested, and official news media began a systematic disinformation campaign.

January 16, 1989

In the presence of several dozen persons, some delegates of independent initiatives attempt to leave flowers at the St. Wenceslas monument on Václavské náměstí. On this pretext, VB (Veřejná bezpečnost – Public Security) standby units accompanied by armored transporters and water cannons intervene against the demonstrators. SNB servicemen arrest Jiří Fiala, Václav Havel, Bořislav Holeček, Lubomír Jaroš, Dana Němcová, David Němec, Stanislav Penc, Jana Petrová, Petr Placák, Marek Ptáček, Jana Sternová, Jiří Svoboda, Jitka Vavříková, Ota Veverka, Alexandr Vondra, and Josef Žáček.

January 17, 1989

A peaceful demonstration on Václavské náměstí again leads to a security service intervention.
During an interrogation on Bartolomějská Street, David Kabzan, a National Gallery employee, is brutally beaten.

January 17, 1989

Slávek Popelka is lawfully convicted by the Brno Regional Court for spreading flyers calling for a street demonstration in Prague and Brno.

January 18, 1989

A spontaneous demonstration in the center of Prague surprisingly gets by without conflict with SNB servicemen.

January 19, 1989

Standby units on Václavské náměstí intervene against demonstrators particularly brutally. In an attempt to discourage all displays of independent expression, VB servicemen intervene even against random passersby. Many people are wounded (14 of them seek out official medical examination), 280 participants are presented for interrogation (23 of them are convicted for criminal acts, 80 prosecuted for misdemeanors).
At the meeting of the First Deputy of the Minister of Interior Gen. A. Lorenc, the task of searching for technical equipment enabling the duplication of appeals, flyers and samizdat is emphasized. On the same day, the StB carries out house searches on Ján Čarnogurský, Miroslav Kusý, and Martin and Milan Šimečka, during which it confiscates a sizable amount of written material and publications.

January 20, 1989

After appeals to break up, a several-hundred strong demonstrating crowd is driven out of Václavské náměstí and broken up.

January 21, 1989

The events culminate in a pilgrimage to the tombstone of Jan Palach in Všetaty, but a commemorative ceremony at the actual grave site is prevented by SNB units, who block all access points. At the five “filtration points,” the SNB searches 449 persons, from which 227 are turned away. An additional 222 citizens, who are determined to continue to Všetaty, are turned in to the police station. 34 persons are subjected to interrogations.
A total of 2,021 persons are searched between January 15-21; the number of those detained or turned in to police stations reaches the number 851.

January 21, 1989

SNB servicemen arrest Stanislav Ritter, member of the Independent Peace Association (Nezávislého mírového sdružení), who on his way from České Budějovice to Prague had produced from his clothing the placards “I belong to them and I am not an enemy,” “Freedom of association,” “Laws apply to everyone,” “Imprisonment is not a solution,” and “Make public the opinions and goals of independent groups and Charter 77.” (After 48 hours in a preliminary detention cell, he is discharged).

Over the course of the so-called Palach Week, a total of 2,021 persons are searched; the number of those detained or turned in to police stations reaches the number 851.

Lists of persons turned in to police stations, searched or convicted

January 22, 1989

The Catholic priest Václav Malý is jailed groundlessly in a preliminary detention cell after refusing to provide witness testimony in the criminal case of Václav Havel and Dana Němcová.

January 27, 1989

For participation in a Bratislava demonstration for religious and human rights, Jiří Fajmon is convicted by the Bratislava 1 Circuit Court.

January 28, 1989

Security services implement extensive preventive measures on Náměstí Míru (Peace Square) against a planned discussion meeting of the Independent Peace Association and Czech Children (České děti) initiatives.

February 1, 1989

For his presence at Prague’s Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square) on October 28, 1988, Luboš Rychvaldský is convicted by the Prague 1Circuit Court.

February 2, 1989

For his participation in the October 28, 1988 demonstration, Richard Štencl is lawfully convicted by the Prague City Court.

February 7, 1989

For handing out flyers calling for the release of Petr Cibulka, Eva Vidlařová and imprisoned activists of the Independent Peace Association (Nezávislého mírového sdružení), three British citizens – David Barnsdal, Joe Harris and Pamela Banks – are arrested. The following day, their stay in the ČSSR (Czechoslovak Socialist Republic) is officially terminated.

February 8, 1989

On the occasion of the preparations and course of the celebrations of the 41st anniversary of the February “victory of the working people,” the Minister of the Interior’s secret order no. 3/1989 decrees level 1 exceptional security measures during the period from 4:00 p.m. on February 22 through 8:00 a.m. February 27, 1989. For the duration of this period, the Minister orders the establishment of operational teams to coordinate security measures, the activation of “agent operative resources,” the taking under supervision of “right-wing exponents and other enemy persons,” and the organization of individual preventive measures against select individuals. The number of servicemen doing rounds is reinforced for the duration; servicemen of Public Security’s Auxiliary Patrol (Pomocná stráž Veřejné bezpečnosti) are also called into service.

February 9, 1989

Miroslav Kvašňák is convicted by the Prague 1 Circuit Court for his presence at an October 28, 1988 demonstration.

February 10, 1989

For his presence at Prague’s Václavské náměstí on October 28, 1988, the blind man Tomáš Majer is convicted by the Prague 1 Circuit Court.

February 14, 1989

For his participation in an unauthorized gathering on January 19, 1989, Jiří Slivec is convicted by the Prague 5 Circuit Court.

February 17, 1989

For his participation in an unathorized gathering on January 19, 1989, Miroslav Šrámek is convicted by the Prague 8 Circuit Court.

February 21, 1989

For sedition and obstructing the carrying out of justice by a public functionary, Václav Havel is convicted by the Prague 3 Circuit Court.

February 22, 1989

Jana Petrová, Ota Veverka, David Němec, Jana Sternová, Stanislav Penc, Petr Placák and Alexandr Vondra are convicted for disorderly conduct by the Prague 2 Circuit Court.

February 23, 1989

SNB (Sbor národní bezpečnosti – National Security Corps) servicemen in Česká Třeboň arrest František Stárek, the publisher of the samizdat magazine Vokna; in a house search many of his belongings are seized.

February 26, 1989

Waiter Vladimír Veselský is arrested for collecting signatures on a petition against the conviction of Václav Havel, Jana Petrová and co.

March 9, 1989

Ivan Jirous and Jiří Tichý are convicted by the Jihlava Circuit Court for a petition in which they hold state organs accountable for the death of Pavel Wonka.

March 9, 1989

Pavel Dundr and Jaromir Němec are convicted by the Kroměříž court for the dissemination of independent initiatives’ written materials.

March 13, 1989

A worker from a Hostivař machine tool factory is arrested. In reaction to an official appeal that workers sign a text condemning the activities of independent initiatives, he had composed a protest petition against police violence.

March 16, 1989

In connection with the initiation of criminal prosecution regarding the case of a petition demanding the release of political prisoners and democratization of society, the State Security Service (Státní bezpečnosti – StB) carry out 11 house searches in Brno, Znojmo and Gottwaldov of activists of the Society of Friends of the USA, during which independent publications and reproduction supplies are confiscated. Stanislav Devátý, who in reaction to this immediately initiates a hunger strike, is arrested.

March 17, 1989

Tomáš Dvořák and Hana Marvanová are convicted for preparing for sedition by the Prague 1 Circuit Court.

March 21, 1989

In an appellate procedure, Václav Havel’s sentence is reduced to 8 months of unconditional deprivation of freedom (imprisonment) by the Prague City Court.

March 24, 1989

The District Court in Vyškov convicts Dušan Skála for collecting supplies for the dissemination of the publication Information on Charter 77 (Informace o Chartě 77).

March 30, 1989

On the occasion of the celebrations of Labor Day and the 44th anniversary of the liberation of Czechoslovakia, the Minister of the Interior of the ČSSR announces level 1 exceptional security measures in secret order no. 5/1989. For the period from April 28-May 2, May 5-6 and May 9-10, the Minister orders the establishment of operational teams to coordinate security measures, the activation of agent and operative activity of SNB (Sbor národní bezpečnosti – National Security Corps) servicemen and the reinforcement of the number of servicemen on the beat.

April 4, 1989

Slávek Popelka is lawfully convicted by the Brno City Court for his dissemination of flyers with a call to demonstrate.

April 5, 1989

For attempt at sedition and damaging the Republic’s interests abroad, the spokesperson of Charter 77 Tomáš Hradílek is convicted by the Přerov District Court.

April 10, 1989

Vlasta Chramostová and Libuše Šilhanová are convicted by the Prague 2 Circuit Court for composing and sending a letter in which they express support for participants in the gathering that took place on January 15, 1989 on Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square) and accuse state and party organs of abuse of entrusted authority and violation of civic rights and freedoms.

April 11, 1989

A gathering of 20-30 citizens in Prague at Můstek addresses the President of the Republic and state organs in a petition calling for the immediate release of Stanislav Devátý. Martin Bláha, Jaroslav Kolafa, Jiří Pavlíček and Roman Rákosník are eventually seized and groundlessly detained in a cell until the following day.

April 14, 1989

After a thirty-day hunger strike, Stanislav Devátý is released from imprisonment.

April 29-May 1, 1989

Jan Dobrovský, Bohumír Janát, Lubor Kohout and Jiří Pavlíček are imprisoned in preliminary detention cells. Dozens more citizens are warned by State Security not to participate in the May 1 march and to leave for the countryside. Those living in the countryside are warned not to go to Prague. Several activists, under threat of apprehension, remain isolated in their apartments on May 1.

May 1, 1989

Security units interfere against a group which had unrolled a banner at the top of Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square) calling for the release of political prisoners. The units force the group out of the square and escort them by bus out of the center of the city. Security units similarly intervene against a group demonstrating in the middle of the square; 113 people are detained in total. Criminal procedures are initiated against 8 of them, among whom are Stanislav Devátý, Jan Maxa, Vladimír Trlida and Tomáš Tvaroch.

May 6, 1989

Petr Uhl is escorted away from a holiday in the Krkonoše mountains by State and Public Security (Státní bezpečnost – StB and Veřejná bezpečnost – VB) servicemen to Hradec Králové for interrogation, upon which he is handed over to Prague, where he is detained for the next 48 hours in a preliminary detention cell.

May 17, 1989

The Prague 4 Circuit Court allows the conditional release of Václav Havel from imprisonment.

May 18, 1989

The Náchod District Court convicts Stanislav Pitaš for alleged assault of an SNB (Sbor národní bezpečnosti – National Security Corps) serviceman during a preventive demonstration on October 27, 1988.

May 19, 1989

The prosecutor allows the release of Stanislav Devátý from imprisonment.

May 27, 1989

A gathering of activists of the Society of Friends of the USA in Litovel is raided by a Public Security (Veřejná bezpečnost – VB) standby unit of 150 men, armed with shields, truncheons, guns and dogs, and is broken up. SNB servicemen detain over 50 participants, who are submitted to personal searches and interrogations, then released.

June 1, 1989

State Security (Státní bezpečnost – StB) intervenes against activists of the Movement for Civic Freedom (Hnutí za občanskou svobodu) meeting in the Prague restaurant Na Hadovce. Uniformed VB (Veřejná bezpečnost – Public Security) authorities and plainclothes SNB (Sbor národní bezpečnosti – National Security Corps) servicemen gradually remove all participants to the VB department, where they are submitted to personal search and interrogation, then released.

June 10, 1989

SNB servicemen prevent the occurrence of an independent press conference at the official music festival Bratislavska Lyra.

June 10, 1989

Some individuals interested in the concert of Jaroslav Hutka and Jaroslav Neduha in Budapest are deprived of their passports by SNB passport authorities either in advance or at border crossings. Those returning from the concert are submitted to personal searches focused on exile literature; several travellers are deprived of their passports by passport control authorities.

June 15, 1989

Miroslaw Jasiňski, activist of Polish-Czech solidarity, is subjected to a personal search by Czechoslovak State Security in Polish Medzilesie, on the way from Prague to Wroclaw. He is subsequently taken off the train and brought across Polish territory to Hradec Králové, where he is detained until the following day.

June 19, 1989

The Chomutov District Court allows the conditional release of Jana Petrová from imprisonment.

June 21, 1989

An SNB (Sbor národní bezpečnosti – National Security Corps) crackdown ends an environmental demonstration against the building of a highway in Prague’s Královská obora (today‘s Stromovka Park). Petr Placák, one of the organizers of the gathering, is violently dragged off into a civilian vehicle and taken outside of Beroun to the Křivoklát woods, where he is brutally beaten. Physical assault and threats are repeated the following day in the StB‘s building on Bartolomějská Street, where Petr Placák had to appear to recover his confiscated ID card.

June 24, 1989

Sixteen participants in the meeting of the collective of spokespersons of Charter 77 are detained by State Security (Státní bezpečnost – StB) for several hours and interrogated about the petition Several Sentences (Několik vět). Stanislav Devátý and Petr Uhl are taken to a preliminary detention cell, where they are held until the following afternoon.

June 26, 1989

František Stárek and Iva Vojtková are convicted by the Ústi nad Orlici District Court for sedition, or aiding the criminal act of sedition.

July 10, 1989

In Chomutov, the StB carries out a raid on Charter 77 signatories, whom it interrogates in connection with the issuing of the samizdat monthly Independent Civic Group (Nezávislá občanská skupina) and with the activities of independent initiatives.

July 23, 1989

The Litoměřice District Court convicts Aleš Středa for the dissemination of flyers with a call to release František Stárek.

July 27, 1989

The StB carries out a series of house searches in Prague, Liberec, Prostějov, Gottwaldov, and Třebechovice pod Orebem in connection with the petition Several Sentences (Několik vět). In addition to related written materials, books, sound tapes and typewriters are removed.

July 31, 1989

In his secret order no. 9/1989, Minister of the Interior General Lieutenant František Kincl decrees level 3 exceptional security measures for the period from August 15-23, 1989. The order, among other things, adjusts the the number of anti-riot units deployed against demonstrators.

August 1, 1989

During the first meeting of the resumed Czech PEN Club center, the State Security Service (Státní bezpečnost – StB) detains Václav Havel, Milan Jungmann, Eva Kantůrková, Milan Šimečka and Jan Trefulka.

August 2, 1989

In connection with the organizing of the petition Several Sentences (Několik vět), the StB detains and interrogates Václav Havel to prevent him from participating in a meeting with Hans Hubert, West German ambassador to Czechoslovakia.

August 11, 1989

At the request of chiefs of the Prague SNB (Sbor národní bezpečnosti – National Security Corps) Directorate JUDr. Antonín Chmelíček and the Bratislava SNB Directorate JUDr. Štefan Mikula from the beginning of August, the Minister detaches additional units for the forthcoming exceptional security measures.

August 17, 1989

Representatives of the democratic opposition in Slovakia, Ján Čarnogurský, Miroslav Kusý, Vladimír Maňák, Hana Ponická and Anton Selecký (the so-called Bratislava Five), begin to face prosecution for sedition, which they had allegedly committed by calling for participation in a peaceful demonstration on the anniversary of the August occupation of Czechoslovakia. Čarnogurský and Kusý are imprisoned.

August 18, 1989

For the pasting up of posters calling for a České Budějovice demonstration, intended as a protest against the military occupation of Czechoslovakia in August 1968, Renata Pánová and Josef Rais, both activists of the Democratic Initiative (Demokratická iniciativa), are convicted by the České Budějovice District Court.

August 21, 1989

Detached security units intervene in Prague‘s Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square) and break up a several-thousand strong demonstration commemorating the military intervention of August 1968. SNB servicemen search 990 citizens and detain 161. (Already in advance of the demonstration, the StB had “preventively” detained 81 people, summoned up 166 people for military exercise, and detained 487 people from Poland, Hungary and Italy at state borders).

August 21, 1989

During a demonstration on Náměstí Svobody (Freedom Square) in Brno approximately 100 people are detained. Already in advance, the StB had warned some citizens under threat of repression not to participate in events organized by independent initiatives taking place on this anniversary.

August 21, 1989

A great number of uniformed and plainclothes SNB servicemen stand by demonstrators in Ostrava’s Náměstí Lidových milicí (People’s Militia Square). The square and adjacent streets are thoroughly guarded; at least 150 persons are detained.

On the decision of the leadership of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the following units are deployed within the scope of the exceptional security measures:

  • 8/15-23
    • standby regiment of the VB ČSR (Veřejná bezpečnost – Public Security – of the Czech Socialist Republic)
    • standby regiment VB SSR (Public Security of the Slovak Socialist Republic)
    • 40 servicemen from the Officer’s School of the Prague SNB
  • 8/15-21
    • 150 and on 8/21 250 servicemen from the Sergeant Major School of the Brno SNB
    • 550 servicemen from Faculties 1 and 2 of the SNB University
    • 250 servicemen from Faculties 3 and 4 of the SNB University
    • (All units in position as reserves of the Joint Operational Headquarters of the ČSSR)

The Minister appropriated in his decision of 8/11:

  1. on behalf of the Prague SNB Directorate – units recruited from students at the University and Officer’s School of the Prague SNB, workers from the FMV (Federální Ministerstvo Vnitra – Federal Ministry of the Interior) Personnel Directorate, the Republic Ministry of the Interior and Environment, the Federal VB Directorate, a stand-by regiment from the VB ČSR and MV (Ministerstvo Vnitra – Ministry of the Interior) Armed Forces Directorate:
    • 8/15-17
      • 140 servicemen to reinforce operative reconnaissance
      • 125 servicemen to reinforce the traffic control service
    • 8/17-20
      • 140 servicemen to reinforce operative reconnaissance
      • 130 servicemen to reinforce the traffic control service
    • 8/17-23
      • 280 servicemen as reserves of the Prague Operational Headquarters
    • 8/20-23
      • 700 servicemen to the anti-riot units of the VB
      • 2 intervention groups from the section of special assignments of the MV Armed Forces as reserves to solve special assignments
      • 3 water cannon vehicles and operating personnel
      • 20 soldiers on compulsory military service from the MV Armed Forces Directorate to protect equipment
    • 8/20-22
      • 10 buses with drivers for the reserves of the Prague Operational Headquarters
  2. on behalf of the Bratislava SNB Directorate – units recruited from the SNB University’s Faculty of Investigation and the VB standby section for the SSR:
    • 8/19-21
      • 100 servicemen to reinforce operative services
    • 8/18-23
      • 20 servicemen to reinforce security measures at the Nitra SNB Operational Headquarters
      • 70 servicemen reinforcing disciplinary service at the Bratislava-venkov SNB Operational Headquarters and the Trnava SNB Operational Headquarters
    • 8/19-21
      • 200 servicemen for the reserves of the Bratislava Operational Headquarters as a VB anti-riot unit
      • 3 water cannons
      • 2 armored transporters
      • 2 escort AVIE
    • 8/20-21
      • 100 servicemen to reinforce anti-riot services
    • Further units appropriated for 8/21: standby battalion from the Border Guard Service (Pohraniční stráže – PS) for possible intervention in Prague (400 men), two standby platoons for Brno and Bratislava (152 and 113 soldiers) and one platoon on reserve (100 soldiers).

August 29, 1989

Stanislav Devátý is convicted by the District Court in Gottwaldov for sedition.

August 30, 1989

Stanislav Penc, activist of the Peace Club of John Lennon and moderator of a public discussion forum that met at Charles Bridge every day starting on August 5, is beaten by StB servicemen. He is consequently threatened with prosecution for assaulting a public agent.

September 8, 1989

The run along Politických vězňů Avenue, regularly held for the release of political prisoners, is violently prevented by an intervention of SNB (Sbor národní bezpečnosti – National Security Corps) servicemen. Several participants are beaten during personal searches and interrogations at the VB (Veřejná bezpečnost – Public Security) department.

September 9, 1989

Operation March Through Prague (Pochod Prahou) for political prisoners, held by the Peace Club of John Lennon, is prevented by an intervention of security organs.

September 13, 1989

A demonstration in Prague at Na Můstku, at which on the initiative of the Independent Peace Association around 300 people protest the construction of a coking plant in Stonava, is brutally broken up by SNB servicemen.

September 14, 1989

Renata Pánová, an 18-year-old activist of the Democratic Initiative, is lawfully convicted by the court in Tábor (to 6 months of imprisonment) for the May 1st banner with which she sympathized with political prisoners.

September 14, 1989

VB units close in on the town of Červený Kostelec, where there is to take place a commemorative memorial afternoon on the anniversary of the death of T.G. Masaryk. Security servicemen inspect all passing vehicles and interrogate drivers, asking where they are going and when they will return.

September 20, 1989

A silent march takes place protesting the construction of a highway through Prague’s Královská obora (today‘s Stromovka Park); five participants are briefly detained by SNB organs.

September 23, 1989

The StB thwarts a meeting of the collective of Charter 77 spokespersons by guarding activists’ apartments and briefly detaining Václav Havel.

September 23, 1989

Roughly forty uniformed SNB servicemen raid the garden of Zdeněk Oborný in Orlové, where a private celebration is taking place, including performances by several domestic and Polish musical groups. Around 200 participants‘ IDs are checked, many are beaten and 25 people are temporarily detained.

September 29, 1989

Four plainclothes StB servicemen attack and take away 19-year-old activist Jana Miklušáková on a field path near Horní Počernice. During the incident they threaten her with physical violence and subject her to an illegal personal search.

October 4, 1989

The Minister of the Interior announces in his secret order no. 14/1989 level 3 exceptional security measures for the period from October 25-30, also modifying the number of anti-riot units deployed.

October 5, 1989

On Prague’s Politických vězňů Avenue, Václav Svoboda is brutally beaten by an StB (Státní bezpečnost – State Security) serviceman, who drags him into a passageway of a nearby house, the entrance of which is being guarded by a uniformed SNB (Sbor národní bezpečnosti – National Security Corps) serviceman, and threatens to kill him if he sees him again at any independent initiatives’ event.

October 5, 1989

At a demonstration against the construction of the coking plant at Stonava at Prague’s Na Můstku, SNB servicemen detain Lenka Marečkova and Ivan Šrek for several hours, the latter of whom is groundlessly detained in a preliminary detention cell until October 9.

October 12, 1989

The StB undertakes house searches in the apartment of the editor-in-chief of the samizdat monthly Lidove noviny, Jiří Ruml, and his deputy, Rudolf Zeman. Both are subsequently imprisoned and convicted for the illegal act of sedition.

October 12, 1989

The StB interrupts a meeting of representatives of four independent initiatives – the Democratic Initiative (Demokratická iniciativa), the Movement for Civic Freedom (Hnutí za občanskou svobodu), the Independent Peace Association (Nezávislé mírové sdružení) and Revival (Obroda) – taking place in the Prague restaurant Černý pivovar, detains participants and, after a several-hour interrogation, releases them.

October 19, 1989

State Security prevents a meeting of activists of the Czechoslovak Helsinki Committee with a delegate from the International Helsinki Federation.

October 25, 1989

A gathering of 200 citizens in a Prague pedestrian zone, in protest against the introduction of a 100-crown note with a portrait of Klement Gottwald, is broken up by SNB units.

October 28, 1989

Security units violently disperse an anti-regime demonstration called by independent initiatives on Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square) on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia. VB servicemen search 1,172 participants and detain 359 people, from whom 149 are held in preliminary detention cells.

October 28, 1989

In regions outside of Prague, 958 people are subject to inspection, 253 people are summoned or presented for “preventive” conversations, and 198 citizens are detained.

During the October exceptional security measures the following SNB units are deployed:

  • 10/26-30
    • 200 servicemen from the Sergeant Major School of the Brno SNB
    • 100 servicemen from the Officer’s and Sergeant Major SNB, PS and MV Armed Forces School in Holešov
    • 40 servicemen from the SNB Officer’s School in Pardubice
    • one battalion with equipment from the standby VB regiment
    • two platoons with equipment from the standby VB section for the SSR
    • 350 servicemen from Faculties 1 and 2 of the SNB University
    • 150 servicemen from Faculties 3 and 4 of the SNB University
    • two intervention groups from the section of special assignments of the MV Armed Forces Directorate
    • (All units in position as reserves of the Joint Operational Headquarters of the ČSSR)

November 9, 1989

SNB units intervene against a gathering demonstrating in front of the building of the Ministry of the Interior and Environment for the release of Pavel Nauman and Ivan Mašek (activists from the Movement for Civic Freedom – Hnutí za občanskou svobodu) and Jiří Ruml and Rudolf Zeman (editors of Lidove noviny). They detain 20 participants for several hours.

November 11-17, 1989

SNB units attempt to intervene against demonstrations for the protection of the environment taking place in Děčín, Litvinov, Most and Teplice. Local party functionaries agree to begin open dialogue.

November 17, 1989

The Minister of the Interior General Lieutenant František Kincl announces in his secret order no. 16/1989 an exceptional security operation for the period from November 17-20, also modifying the number of units deployed.

November 17, 1989

In the evening hours on Prague’s Národní třída, security forces intervene against the unauthorized part of a student demonstration on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the death of student Jan Opletal. A standby VB ČSR regiment and an SNB school standby unit brutally thrash and break up the encircled demonstrators using armored transporters.

November 18, 1989

Over the course of the day, anti-riot units unsuccessfully attempt to intervene in the center of Prague.

During the November days, the following units are deployed:

  • from 11/20:
    • 300 servicemen from the Sergeant Major School of the Brno SNB
    • 100 servicemen from the Officer’s and Sergeant Major SNB, PS and MV Armed Forces School in Holešov
    • 40 servicemen from the SNB Officer’s School in Pardubice
    • 20 servicemen from the SNB Officer’s School in Prague
    • 30 servicemen from the Prague Language School
    • three battalions with equipment from the standby VB ČSR regiment
    • three platoons with equipment from the standby section of the VB for the SSR
    • 400 servicemen from Faculties 1 and 2 of the SNB University
    • 200 servicemen from Faculties 3 and 4 of the SNB University
    • two intervention groups from the section of special assignments of the MV Armed Forces Directorate
    • 3 water cannons
    • 6 armored transporters
    • (All units in position as reserves of the Joint Operational Headquarters of the ČSSR)

November 19, 1989

StB servicemen intervene against visitors to the apartment of Václav Benda on Karlovo náměstí. Václav Benda is under house arrest at the time. Marek Benda and ten-twenty students are detained. Anna Šabatová is among those attending the meeting.

November 20, 1989

Minister of the Interior General Lieutenant František Kincl in his secret order no. 17/1989 announces level 3 exceptional security measures until recall.

November 22, 1989

The communist leadership withdraws units of the People’s Militia that had, on the instruction of the General Secretary, transferred from individual regions to Prague.

November 23, 1989

The General Staff of the Czechoslovak People’s Army finalizes preparations for military intervention (operation “Intervention”) against the centers of opposition and demonstrating citizens in the Czech lands and Slovakia.

November 24, 1989

The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) leadership, under pressure, decides not to use a power intervention to resolve the ongoing situation. General Secretary Miloš Jakeš and the entire KSČ presidium step down.

November 25, 1989

President Gustáv Husák stops criminal prosecution of Ján Čarnogursky, Miroslav Kusý, Jiří Ruml, Petr Uhl a Rudolf Zeman, and pardons Ivan Jirous, Ivan Polanský and František Stárek from their penalty of imprisonment.

November 28, 1989

In secret order no. 18/1989 of the Minister of the Interior of the ČSSR, exceptional security measures are decreased to level 1.

Units deployed:

  • from 11/29:
    • 100 servicemen from the Sergeant Major School of the Brno SNB
    • 50 servicemen from the Officer’s and Sergeant Major SNB, PS and MV Armed Forces School in Holešov
    • one battalion with equipment from the VB ČSR standby regiment
    • one platoon with equipment from the standby section of the VB for the SSR
    • 200 servicemen from Faculties 1 and 2 of the SNB University
    • 200 servicemen from Faculties 3 and 4 of the SNB University
    • one intervention group from the section of special assignments of the MV Armed Forces Directorate
    • (All units in position as reserves of the Joint Operational Headquarters of the ČSSR)

December 6, 1989

The Minister of the Interior continues secret order no. 21/1989 until notice of recall.

Deployed units:

  • from 12/7:
    • 100 servicemen from the Sergeant Major School of the Brno SNB
    • 50 servicemen from the Officer’s and Sergeant Major SNB, PS and MV Armed Forces School in Holešov
    • one battalion with equipment from the standby regiment of the VB ČSR
    • one platoon/company with equipment from the standby section of the VB for the SSR
    • 100 servicemen from Faculties 1 and 2 of the SNB University
    • 100 servicemen from Faculties 3 and 4 of the SNB University
    • (All units in position as reserves of the Joint Operational Headquarters of the ČSSR)

December 6, 1989

The Presidium of the Slovak National Council repeals the so-called truncheon law (legal measure no. 99/1969 Coll.) which had legalized armed services interventions against demonstrators.

December 11, 1989

Secret order of the Minister of the Interior no. 22/1989 terminates exceptional security measures.


Sources and literature:

  • BENDA, Patrik – ŽÁČEK, Pavel (eds.) Securitas Imperii 4. Úřad dokumentace a vyšetřování zločinů komunismu, Praha 1998. ISBN 80-85821-57-5.
    Denní situační zprávy. [cit. 5/2009]
  • Informace o Chartě 77: kompletní elektronická verze samizdatového časopisu. [cit. 5/2009]
    PREČAN, Vilém – VLADISLAV, Jan. Horký leden 1989 v Československu. Novinář, Praha 1990. ISBN 80-7077-396-0.
  • SUK, Jiří et al. Chronologie zániku komunistického režimu v Československu 1985–1990. ÚSD AV ČR, Praha 1999. ISBN 80-85270-88-9.
  • TŮMA, Oldřich. Zítra zase tady!: protirežimní demonstrace v předlistopadové Praze jako politický a sociální fenomén. ÚSD AV ČR, Praha 1994. ISBN 80-85800-21-7.