Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic

06/21/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/22/2021 10:20

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic on the 30th Anniversary of the Withdrawal of the Soviet Army from the Territory of Czechoslovakia

Today we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the withdrawal of the Soviet army from the former Czech and Slovak Federative Republic. The last transport with Soviet soldiers and equipment left the territory of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic (CSFR) on 21 June 1991. Six days later, on 27 June, the last Soviet soldier left the territory of the CSFR.

The occupation of our territory, which halted the incipient process of democratization and launched the Normalization era, began with the invasion of the armed forces of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact in August 1968 and lasted for 23 years. The initial force of the invading armies represented more than 500,000 soldiers, approximately 6,300 tanks, 200 cannons and 800 aircraft.

In the period from 1 January 1969 until 21 June 1991, the occupation cost the lives of at least 267 Czechs and Slovaks.

The occupation also brought great economic damage, destroyed buildings and roads, as well as causing significant ecological pollution.

'These events form part of our history, and it is necessary to remember them well. In November 1989, we decided to restore our sovereignty, freedom and security, and to make everything so that our historical experience is never repeated again. Therefore, we need to even more issue a warning if there is a violation of human rights, a denial of personal freedom or even a redrawing of borders by armed forces, as we are witnessing in our immediate neighborhood,' stated Minister Ivan Korčok. He further emphasized that the security and sovereignty of Slovakia is guaranteed by the EU and NATO. In 2004 we decided to become a member of these two institutions by our own free choice.

The withdrawal of the Soviet troops from the CSFR in 1990-1991 put into motion 73,000 soldiers, almost 40,000 of their family members in 16 months, and more than 30,000 railway wagons were used to transport people and equipment.