Czech Security Forces Archive to launched its digital archive

Pilot phase

Prague - Czech Security Forces Archive (ABS) today launched pilot phase of its digital archive offering several tens of thousands of documents in electronic shape, Pavel Zacek, director of Institute for Study of Totalitarian Regimes (USTR) in charge of ABS, told reporters.

Those interested can look into documents in USTR's research rooms as of Monday.

Zacek said whole project is to be completed next year when researchers will be able to find documents on Internet, after being given necessary passwords.

More than four million archive documents are to be available by then. USTR has digitised them and now their checks are underway.

Digitisation proceeds with regard to people's interest in various documents. As of Monday, certain e-documents of former communist secret police StB and of SS units will be available in research premises as of Monday.

ABS says project is unique in Central Europe. Change, compared with hitherto situation, rests in that researchers will not receive for study only what they applied for, but will have access to everything digitised archive contains.

USTR spokesman Jiri Reichel recently said documents to be published are not databases over which former dissident Stanislav Penc has clashed with USTR.

Penc criticises USTR and ABS for failing to disclose e-databases of StB. He wants to turn to court in this connection.

Zacek said Penc's attacks on USTR are politically motivated and stem from lack of knowledge.

See at: http://www.abscr.cz/cs/pruvodce-po-fondech-sbirkach

Datum: 20. 07. 2009