Prague - Pavel Ploc, now MP for Social Democratic Party and former internationally renowned ski jumper sues the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes for their archive records that list his name among the Communist informants.
Ploc's attorney confirmed for Aktuálně.cz that the charge was filed with Prague Municipal Court.
Ploc says that the Institute owes him an apology. Besides that, he wants the information about his role as a confidant for the communist counter-intelligence to be removed from their records. His lawyers say that the Institute broke the law by publishing Ploc's record.
Pavel Ploc won a silver medal at the Winter Olympics in 1988 in Calgary and a bronze medal in 1984 in Sarajevo.
"I am innocent"
Former ski jumping champion repeatedly denied any cooperation with the Communist secret police StB.
"I categorically deny any type of active involvement with the former counter-intelligence. My record is a proof that the communist regime was trying to win over many people, but was not successful with me," Ploc said.
His record that Aktuálně.cz has access to informs about the role he played for the counter-intelligence as a top athlete. Following his travels to sports events abroad, he allegedly informed the counter-intelligence about the situation behind the Iron Curtain.
How are the immigrants doing
Most information covers the lives of immigrants, revealing personal data about their jobs and their contacts with people from Czechoslovakia.
Pavel Ploc did not allow having his record published.
"I do not see any reason for that. Someone else kept that record over me. Everyone can access it when he or she asks Mr. Žáček," Ploc explained his stand. Pavel Žáček is the head of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes.
Read INTERVIEW with Pavel Žáček: Small but effective: communist secret police dissected
Spying MPs
Recently, the names of well-known MPs were found in the counter-intelligence archives. Among others, Walter Bartoš, Juraj Raninec and Tomáš Hasil from ODS and athletes Jaroslav Holík and Jiří Králík.
Both Bartoš and Hasil published their records online, Raninec's records were destroyed in the past.
