Vasiľ Biľak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vasil Biľak
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| Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia | |
| In office November 1968 – 12 December 1989 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 August 1917 Bátorhegy, Sáros County, Kingdom of Hungary (now Krajná Bystrá, Slovakia) |
| Died | 6 February 2014 (aged 96) Bratislava, Slovakia |
| Nationality | Czechoslovak, Slovak |
| Profession | Tailor, politician |
RSDr. Vasiľ Biľak (born August 11, 1917 – died February 6, 2014) was an important Slovak Communist politician. He was of Rusyn background. He played a big role in the government of Czechoslovakia for many years.
Contents
Vasiľ Biľak: A Look at His Life
Early Life and Career
Vasiľ Biľak was born in a village called Krajná Bystrá. At that time, this area was part of the Kingdom of Hungary. Today, it is in Slovakia. His family was of Rusyn ethnicity. Before he became a politician, he worked as a tailor.
He became involved in the communist movement in 1936. This was a political group that believed in a society where everyone is equal and resources are shared.
Role in Czechoslovak Politics
Vasiľ Biľak held many important positions in the Communist Party.
- From 1955 to 1968, and again from 1969 to 1971, he was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Slovakia.
- He served as a secretary of this party from 1962 to 1968. For a short time in 1968, he was even its General Secretary.
- From April 1968 to December 1988, he was a member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. This was a very powerful group.
- He also served as a secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia from 1968 to 1988. In this role, he had a lot of influence over the country's foreign policy and its main ideas.
- From 1960 to 1989, he was a member of the National Assembly, which was like the country's parliament.
The Prague Spring and Its Aftermath
In 1968, Czechoslovakia experienced a period of political changes called the Prague Spring. During this time, leaders tried to make the communist system more open and free. However, Vasiľ Biľak was part of a group that did not agree with these changes. They were known as the "hardline" wing of the party.
He supported the decision by the Soviet Union and other countries to send their armies into Czechoslovakia in August 1968. This event stopped the reforms of the Prague Spring. After the invasion, Biľak was involved in what was called the "normalisation process." This was a period when the government tried to return things to how they were before the Prague Spring. They removed leaders who supported the reforms and made the country's policies stricter again.
Vasiľ Biľak was one of the politicians who signed a letter asking the armies of the Warsaw Pact countries to come into Czechoslovakia. This letter was seen as an invitation for the invasion.
Later Life
In December 1989, when the communist government in Czechoslovakia ended, Vasiľ Biľak was removed from the Communist Party. He faced accusations related to the 1968 events and the "invitation" letter. However, a legal process regarding these accusations ended without a final decision in 2011.
Vasiľ Biľak passed away in 2014 in Bratislava, Slovakia. He was 96 years old.
Images for kids
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Vasiľ Biľak
See also
In Spanish: Vasiľ Biľak para niños
