Czech Dissident Freed From Prison

VIENNA — Czechoslovak dissident Rudolf Battek was released from prison last Wednesday, apparently in good health, after serving all but six weeks of a 5 1/2-year jail term, emigre sources said here Friday.

Battek was convicted in 1980 for subversion in collaboration with foreigners. The term was imposed because of letters he wrote in 1978 to Western Socialist leaders.

The sources said they believe that Battek’s six-week reprieve was connected with a planned trip to Prague later this month by former West German Chancellor Willy Brandt in his capacity as president of the Socialist International. Brandt was one of the leaders to whom Battek wrote.