Czechia criminalizes promotion of communism

As of 1 January 2026, Czechia has amended its Criminal Code to place the promotion of communist ideology on the same legal footing as Nazism. The change reflects the country’s historical experience with totalitarian regimes and their impact on human rights and freedoms.

In a recent interview with Czech Radio, historian Kamil Nedvědický, First Deputy Director of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, explains what the new law does—and does not—prohibit. He discusses how the amendment targets the repressive practices and ideology of communist regimes, while preserving space for academic research and debate. The interview also explores why there has been limited public opposition to the law and how Central Europe’s lived experience with both Nazism and communism shapes this legal approach.

Read the full interview on Czech Radio:https://english.radio.cz/czechia-criminalizes-promotion-communism-8873916

Czechia by introducing this step follows other countries that experienced communism, such as Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine, in criminalizing the promotion of communism.