Italy’s Communist Party Urges Dubcek Be ‘Rehabilitated’

ROME —  Italy’s Communist Party on Thursday called for the political rehabilitation of Alexander Dubcek, the former Czechoslovak Communist Party leader ousted after the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of his country.

“Restore political honor to Alexander Dubcek,” Italian party leader Achille Occhetto said at a news conference after a two-hour meeting with Dubcek, who is in Italy on his first trip abroad in 18 years.

Occhetto called rehabilitation “a necessary step if you want to reclose the wound opened 20 years ago.” He said the Italian Communist Party will raise the matter with the Czechoslovak and Soviet Communist parties.