Office for the Documentation and the Investigation of the Crimes of Communism in the Czech Republic (UDV) has been functioning since January 1995. It was created out of two predecessors which were situated at the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Justice. UDV's main responsibility is to investigate crimes and examine proof concerning crimes committed in the period between February 25th, 1948 and December 29th, 1989. This mostly concerns communist crimes. The Office functions on the basis of legal acts out of which some were adopted still during the existence of Czechoslovakia. The Office consists of two units: Department of Investigation and Department of Documentation. It employs approximately 100 people.
Further to the amendment of the Criminal Procedure Code, effective from January 1st, 2002, a reorganization of the Police of the Czech Republic took place. In result, the UDV was on that day incorporated into the Police of the Czech Republic Act. Thus, UDV acts as one of the police units in the territory of the whole country. Although the UDV is a police organ, its other activities are connected with collecting and analysing documentation dating back from the years 1948-1989. It is responsible for collecting, verifying and documenting facts which prove that the communist regime was not a legal system and that the resistance against it was legitimate. Its other tasks are to educate and inform the public about the functioning and mechanism of the former security apparatus. The Office prepares publications and conferences in which the results of its research are presented. UDV co-operates with similar institutions in the countries of the former Eastern bloc.
In July 2001 the President of the Institute Professor Leon Kieres and Vice President Professor Witold Kulesza visited Prague and initiated the exchange of information and experience between the Czech and Polish institutions.
On Thursday, September 26th, 2002, Professor Leon Kieres hosted in Warsaw a Czech delegation headed by Colonel Irenej Kratochvil, director of the Czech Office for the Documentation and the Investigation of the Crimes of Communism. The goal of the visit was to discuss co-operation between both institutions, especially in the area of investigations and public education.
On Thursday, September 26th, 2002, Professor Leon Kieres, President of the Institute of National Remembrance, will host in Warsaw a Czech delegation headed by Colonel Irenej Kratochvil, director of the Office for the Documentation and the Investigation of the Crimes of Communism (UDV) in Prague. The goal of the visit is to discuss co-operation between both institutions, especially in the area of investigations and public education.
The visit of the Czech delegation is the second opportunity of both sides to discuss matters of common interest. In July 2001 the President of the Institute Professor Leon Kieres and Vice President Professor Witold Kulesza visited Prague and originated the exchange of information and experience between the Czech and Polish institutions.
The working meeting of the IPN and UDV will be concluded at 14.30 in the conference room at Towarowa str. 28 (4th floor). Journalists are welcome upon an earlier accreditation (530 86 67).
PROGRAMME OF THE VISIT
September 26th, 2002 (Thursday)
IPN Headquarters, Towarowa str. 28
Conference Room, 12th floor
10:00 - 10:45 participation in the opening of the session Intelligence Activities of the Polish Underground State organized by the Public Education Office
Conference Room, 4th floor
11:00 - 12:30 working meeting on the current activities of both institutions
Welcome address by the President of the Institute of National Remembrance Professor Leon Kieres
Information by Professor Leon Kieres about the current IPN activities
Information by Colonel Irenej Kratochvil
Discussion
12:30 - 12:45 coffee break
12:45 - 14:15 working meeting on the co-operation between UDV and IPN (concerning investigation matters and public education)
Conference Room, 4th floor
14:30 - 14:45 summing-up of the visit - a meeting with the press
September 26th, 2002
On July 30th 2001, the President of the IPN Professor Leon Kieres paid a visit to the Czech Office for Documentation and Investigation of Communist Crimes (UDV) in Prague. The Vice-President of IPN, Director of the Head Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation Professor Witold Kulesza accompanied the President. They met the Director of the Investigative Division Mr. Pavel Bret and the Director of the Documentation Division Mr. Jan Kalous.
During the meeting at the UDV, the activities of both institutions were discussed, particularly regarding questions related to the investigation of the communist crimes in Poland and Czech Republic. Also, the co-operation between both institutions was assessed, which included the co-operation between the Polish and Czech Secret Police in such areas as repression against the church and religious communities, cooperation of both secret services in actions directed against the opposition and emigration, reactions of the Polish people to the events of 1968 in Czechoslovakia and reactions of the Czechs to the Polish events of 1956, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1980 and to the Martial Law. Moreover, both the delegation and the hosts exchanged their experiences in terms of educational endeavors, as well as, the co-operation between the investigative departments of both institutions.
The President of the IPN Professor Leon Kieres was presented with the List of Polish Citizens Killed while Crossing the Czechoslovak Border During the Period from 1953 to 1965 from the representatives of UDV. Polish citizens who intended to escape to the West were killed while crossing the Czechoslovak border encountered an electrical blockade of 3,000-5,000 voltage.
Professors Leon Kieres and Witold Kulesza met also the Director of the Archives Division of the Interior Ministry of the Czech Republic (AMV) Mr. Jan Frolik. The Archives of the Interior Ministry of the Czech Republic is a specialized archive collecting records of the Czech Federal Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Justice of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. From 1989, the collections of the AMV are gradually accessible for research. The documents issued at these ministries, in central and local units of the secret police, the militia and the border guards have been located in these archives. The lustration act of 1991 is based on the collections of the archives of the AMV. The archive makes it possible for Czech citizens to have access to the material of the communist security forces. During the meeting at the AMV, the Polish guests were acquainted with the Czech experiences related to the public access of the archived material.
The visit encountered a great interest on the part of the Czech media. Professor Leon Kieres as well as the Director of the Office for Documentation and Investigation of Communist Crimes took part in press conference and also in a life TV program during which a discussion was held on Polish and Czech experiences with coming to terms with their past 1st.
August 1st, 2001
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