Victims of 1968 Prague Spring repression to be compensated

Czech President Vaclav Klaus on Tuesday approved a law allowing for victims and their relatives of the August 1968 repression of the Czechoslovak reform movement to be compensated, dpa reported.

Around 100 civilians lost their lives and many others were injured when Warsaw Pact tanks and soldiers invaded Czechoslovakia to stop the protests.

Starting in 2010, victims of the repression of the Prague Spring can apply with the Interior Ministry for a one-time payment of between 30,000 to 150,000 korunas (1,632-8,160 dollars).

The new law closes a legal loophole. In a first round of compensation in 2005, around 400 of the 500 applications were rejected, because the victims' families had received compensation under the communist regime by 1989.

Under the new law, these previous sums will be taken into account but will not hinder further compensation.