Vallo: It's Necessary to Repeat That Freedom Cannot Be Taken for Granted

Bratislava, 21 August (TASR) – Freedom cannot be taken for granted and must be constantly defended, said Bratislava mayor Matus Vallo on social media on the 57th anniversary of the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. "We owe our freedom to generations before us who fought and gave their lives for it," stated Vallo, emphasising the importance of remembering the events of 21 August 1968. "We must commemorate this day to prevent the distortion of history," he added. Vallo stressed the need for Slovakia to remain aligned with allies who share its values and respect for freedom and democracy. He also called for heightened sensitivity to current developments in society. Bratislava regional governor Juraj Droba also condemned the 1968 occupation. "We must continue to condemn and remember the 1968 occupation. Freedom is fragile," wrote Droba on social media, pointing to the invasion's severe economic and moral consequences. Matej Vagac, mayor of Bratislava's Old Town borough, highlighted the importance of historical memory, noting that it helps to prevent repeated mistakes and acts as a warning when history begins to repeat itself. According to Vagac, such events do not emerge suddenly. "In 1968, the invasion was preceded by a gradual erosion of freedom, the spread of misinformation, and the systematic cultivation of conditions for tyranny," he wrote. "Freedom is fragile and requires our constant vigilance – so that we never again wake up to a morning like on 21 August 1968." mf/df