MOSCOW SAYS PRAGUE ALLOWED 'ANTI-SOVIET-SLANDER' IN PROTEST

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01314R000300450040-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 6, 2004
• Sequence Number: 40
• Publication Date: April 1, 1969
• Content Type: NSPR

NHS'/ YOPIC TIMES
Approved For Release 2004/10/28 jcMFab 8-Q1314R000300450040-0
0
,1VIOScuW ,. GEyrS
By BERNARD GWERTZMAN $ptdN to The Now York Tama MOSCOW, Mauch 31---The Soviet Union sharply criticized
papers are still published rely
tively freely despitb presence
70,000 Soviet troops in
of
Czechoslovakia.
.
Pravda noted that after the
first Czechoslovak hockey vic-
tory on March 22, ."thousands
of people,, mainly youths in a
heat of 'nationalist passion,
went to Wcnceslas Square
[and] again antisocialist and
anti-Soviet slogans appeared
on the walls of houses."
Czechoslovakia Government re-
ported today that widespread
anti-soviet violence, reaching,
"hysteria, had extended to
several cities after the victory'
of the Czechoslovak ice hockey)
team,
the Czechoslovak leaders today
for continuing to allow liberal
forces to spread "nationalist
and anti-Soviet slander."
An article` in Pravda, the
Communist party newspaper,
:was ostensibly a complaint
against the sacking last Yriday
night in Prague of Aeroflot and
Intourist ? offices, after, the
Czechoslovak ice. hockey team
had beaten the Russians in
In a report on the anti-Soviet
incidents, the?Interior, Ministry
said Soviet military vehicles had
been burned, Soviet' troop bar-
racks damaged, Soviet military
authorities abused and 51 Czech-
leaders of the Communist party) Another Government state-
of Czechoslovakia and ?the,rnent denied reports that Josef
a second game in the world
championships at Stockholm.
The'Pravda article said that
after some gains toward nor-
nralization "the events of recent
days have shown that the
right-wing antisocialist forces
once again - seek to aggravate
the situation in Czechoslovakia."
'The "normalization" demand-
ed after the Soviet-led invasion
,last August, is regarded as a re-
turn to stricter party,control in
,Czechoslovakia and unques-
tioned loyalty to Moscow in
foreign affairs.
The Soviet Union uses such
terms, as "antisocialist forces"
to describe Czechoslovak re-
formists. One of the chief tar-
gets has been Josef Smrlcov
-
,sky, member of the party's
presidium, who was listed as
'among the participants in the
anti-Soviet manifestation" on
Friday night.
Pravda recalled the suicide
use of Jan Palach's self=immo-
dent, that led to widespread
anti - Soviet demonstrations in
January.
L "Right - wing, revisionist,
counterrevolutionary -elements
In the Czechoslovak Socialist
Republic, with tie support of
Western reactionaries, made
Slovo as publications that "fan
lation Into 'which they them-
'selves pushed him," Pravda
'said.
"They,..are, now trying' un-
I scrupulously to ' use the world
ice hockey championships in
their antisocialist, and anti-
tSoviet aims," the article said.
It asserted that the Czecho-
s,slovak press, radio and tele-
'ision "started ;stirring , pas-
sions of the public long before
the beginning of the champion-
ship in Stockholm."
. Pravda named Prace, Re-
porter, Mlada Fronta, Zcme-
deiske Noviny and Svobodne
tively free'despite the presence
,hauvinisl:ic psychosis.",;,These,
Appro veFor, telease. 004/10,128: CIA-RDP,88;-01314R,QQ03A045'404 O
time against those unhealthy
and dangerous phenomena,"
Snrrkovsky, a leading progres-
sive, had taken part in the
demonstrations.
A spokesman said' Snir-
Mr
Pravda said.
.t~ovsky had been. caught in it
"it is ~~not an accident," ittraffic jam near the scene,' but
added, that the, right-wing had not emerged from his car.
forces succeeded in using the "The situation' that 'arose,'!
success of the, Czechoslovak the ministry said, "had nothing
hockey, players In 'the second'in common with national sports
game with the Soviet team as a pride. It.,was misused especial:
pretext for new political prov- ly by various provocateurs; of-
ocations.'1 fenders and criminal elements
The article' said that exalta-for ? anti-Soviet ' hysteria ? and
tion after victory is under-.vandalism against which the
standablq, "but the provoca-,public security police had to
tions Staged in Prague thesetal;e resolute steps and Insure
days have nothing in common
with sport. They are organized, public " or d h in a number o1
prepared in advance and pur- "In a number of cases, they
suing definite political aims." ;seriously wounded Members of
Pravda 'said the Aeroflot and sacked by "a mob of hooligans the police, who are now in the
Intourist offices had been ran-: the report added.
provoked by "sinister right,- The incidents, 'which 'led to
" the temporary. detention of 39
wing propaganda
.
The Soviet newspaper called citizens, occurred in.-both :the
for Czech Republic and in Slovakia.
resolutions of the implementation November of ) The ministry said the "most
plenary meeting of the Czecho- serious situations". 'arose in
slovak Central ? Committee,, Prague, Usti and ?Labem,;'Brati+
which attempted to resolve ' dif-Islpyaand, othe4:toWnq
cutting back completely on
freedoms gained before the in-
vasion.
Pravda took no' note of a
statement by Czeohoslovalt
authorities on Saturday deplor-
ingAho ransacking of the Aero-
flot office and apologizing. to'
the Soviet Government.
In -the last two months, many
high-ranking Czechoslovak ofi-
ficlals havo visited Moscow,
and Soviet leaders have gone to
Czechoslovakia. It has been re-
ported that the Soviet side has
complained constantly about
effective restraints on its press.
Czech Reports Rioting`
By ALVIN SHUSTER
8peo(ai to'rae New York Times
%,i?ItAG1,1~.;Marc1, 31 -The'
.11