Only senior Communist not to sign document “legitimising” ’68 invasion to get high honour

Czech President Miloš Zeman is to award the Order of T.G. Masaryk to František Kriegel, a late Communist politician who was the only person to refuse to sign a document “legitimising” the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968. Also set to receive a high honour at Prague Castle on October 28, the anniversary of the country’s foundation, is a student who lost his life last year protecting a classmate from a school attack. The Medal for Heroism will go to Petr Vejvoda, who died at his school in Žďár nad Sázavou after a woman diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia began randomly attacking students.

Author: Ian Willoughby