VONS Communiqués

Information on the individual cases monitored was reported by members of VONS in the form of communiqués, which contained case descriptions and biographical data on the persons subject to police persecution or unjust judicial prosecution. Sometimes they included news concerning their state of health and manifestations of solidarity in their favour. VONS also regularly published summary communiqués which always included an overview of all the cases monitored. From its inception in April 1978 until the end of 1989, the committee published a total of 1 125 communiqués, ranging from a few lines to several pages in length.

Almost all VONS communiqués were published in the samizdat bulletin Information on Charter 77 (Informace o Chartě 77). VONS communiqués were also broadcast on a regular basis by radio stations based abroad, especially the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe.

Declaration of the foundation of the Committee for the Defence of the Unjustly Persecuted, source: Libiri prohibiti

Statistical Overview

Year / Number of Communiqués / Communiqué Numbers

1978 62 communiqués / Nos. 1-62

1979 96 communiqués / Nos. 63 – 137 and 139 – 158, and the special unnumbered communiqué of May 30, 1979 (following the arrest of VONS members on May 29, 1979, one special and 44 ordinary communiqués were issued)

1980 68 communiqués / No. 138 (issued on February 28, 1980) and communiqués 159 – 225

1981 58 communiqués / Nos. 226 – 283

1982 29 communiqués / Nos. 284 – 312

1983 39 communiqués / Nos. 313 – 349, 2 communiqués were issued under Nos. 340 and 341, an addendum was published to Communiqué No. 338 two days after it was issued

1984 62 communiqués / Nos. 350 – 411

1985 84 communiqués / Nos. 412 – 495

1986 105 communiqués / Nos. 496 – 600

1987 117 communiqués / Nos. 601 – 717

1988 154 communiqués / Nos. 718 – 871, two communiqués were issued under No. 778, Communiqué No. 833 was subsequently revoked.

1989 251 communiqués / Nos. 872 – 1121, two communiqués were issued under No. 1092

Total 1125 communiqués / Nos. 1 – 1121, two communiqués were issued under Nos. 340, 341, 788 and 1092, and a special communiqué was issued in May 1979