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Monday marks the 65th anniversary of the communist putsch of 1948 which for the next four decades turned Czechoslovakia into a totalitarian state and a satellite of the Soviet Union. The anniversary is being commemorated by a series of events, warning against the Communists’ growing support in the society.

On Friday, the Czech government moved to cement a deal on church restitutions that the opposition Social Democrats are challenging at the Constitutional Court. Prime Minister Petr Nečas and representatives of 16 churches signed bilateral agreements under which the state will pay them financial compensation to the tune of 59 billion crowns over a period of 30 years.

The wide-ranging amnesty declared in January by the outgoing Czech president, Václav Klaus, continues to cause controversy. On Thursday a public hearing on the subject was held at the Senate, where an unprecedented legal move has been considered – charging President Klaus with high treason.

The Czech Republic became the latest country to be hit by the horsemeat scandal on Wednesday, after officials confirmed the presence of horse DNA in frozen lasagne labelled as containing beef. The imported lasagne – sold at a Tesco supermarket in the city of Plzeň – has now been withdrawn as Czech authorities carry out further tests.

The Bulgarian operation of the Czech state-controlled energy firm ČEZ has run into serious problems after Bulgaria’s energy regulator launched proceedings to revoke its licence to operate in the country. The decision came after nationwide protests against high electricity prices centred on the Czech company which controls around 40 percent of Bulgaria’s electricity distribution market. On Wednesday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov announced his cabinet was stepping down after 14 protesters were injured in clashes with the police. Ilin Stanev

When news broke at the weekend of a devastating explosion that killed at least five people in an apartment block in north Moravia, it appeared to be a tragic accident. Now it has emerged that the deaths were probably the result of a heinous crime committed by a resident, who himself was killed by the blast.

The opposition Social Democrats have lodged a constitutional complaint against the law on church restitutions in a last-ditch attempt to scupper an agreement that continues to divide Czech society. Their decision to challenge the law is perfectly legitimate, but some of the arguments behind it have raised eyebrows.

More than a dozen people who risked their lives to stand up to the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia received recognition from the government on Monday for participating in the so-called third resistance. The Prime Minister awarded 12 former dissidents, people smugglers and political prisoners for their resistance to the totalitarian regime. Six awards were granted posthumously.

Recent scandals involving members of the Czech lower house have prompted a response from their colleagues. Lawmakers are now debating legislation that would strip deputies of their salary and other benefits if they are sentenced to jail. The lower house also backed an amendment to the Constitution which would strip convicted MPs of the mandate.

The Czech and German interior ministers on Thursday pledged to intensify cooperation at all levels to curb a flourishing cross-border drug trade in crystal methamphetamine. Despite tightened border controls, Czech suppliers are meeting growing demand in the southern and eastern parts of Germany which border on the Czech Republic and where an increasing number of young people are falling prey to the highly-addictive stimulant.