Academic Centrehttps://doi.org/10.22364/iscflul.9.2.11 | 125-134 | PDF
Petra Skrejpkova, PhD
Charles University, Faculty of Law, Czech Republic
Limiting the Right to Freedom of Movement As One of the Instruments of Power in Czechoslovakia in the 20th Century – “Behind Closed Borders – Restrictions in 1945–1989 Czechoslovakia”
Key words: emigration, borders, human rights, citizenship, passport, criminal law
Summary
The current article is dedicated to the subject of restrictions on the freedom of movement of citizens during the latter half of the past century as a result of the totalitarian communist regime. Unlike the usual purpose of borders, which is to protect the population from the enemy, in this case, the function of borders is different, namely, to prevent the population from leaving the state territory. This restriction on freedom of movement was a key tactic in maintaining control over the population, stifling opposition, and enforcing ideological conformity. The article summarizes the ways how these restrictions were legally addressed in constitutional, administrative and criminal law.
The current paper has been published in the second collection of research papers in conjunction with the 9th International Scientific Conference of the Faculty of Law of the University of Latvia “Revisiting the Limits of Freedom While Living Under Threat. II”, 9–10 November 2023. Riga: University of Latvia Press, 2024. 232 pages.