Hungarian Ombudsman Imre Juhasz in an open letter has urged relevant European officials to introduce measures aimed at causing the repeal of provisions of the Slovak Criminal Code related to the Benes decrees.
Juhasz addressed his letter to OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Christophe Kamp, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Maria Telalian, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, and Slovak Public Ombudsman Robert Dobrovodsky.
According to the Ombudsman, provisions of the Slovak Criminal Code on the "denial of the post-war peace settlement" run contrary to international conventions and some European Union treaties. Criminal sanctions based on the public denial or questioning of the legal documents listed in this provision may also be imposed on Hungarian citizens, he added.
Under an amendment to the Slovak Criminal Code that entered into force at the end of December, anyone who publicly questions the post-war settlement that deprived thousands of Hungarians of property and citizenship may be sentenced to six months in prison.
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini signed the amendment before Christmas.
Source: TASR
