DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-082-5-0022
Restrictions on the Rights of Security Forces, the Principle of Proportionality, and Loyalty: Challenges for Security and Regional Development in the V4 Countries
- Kateřina Blažková
ORCID...1 - 1 Department of Private Law, Faculty of Security Management, Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague, Lhotecká 559/7, 143 00 Prague 4 - Kamýk, Czech Republic
The article focuses on the restriction of fundamental rights of members of security forces in the Czech Republic and the V4 countries. It analyzes the legal framework of these restrictions, in particular the prohibition of strikes, political activities, restrictions on business, and the right of association, and their compliance with the principle of proportionality. A comparative approach shows that all V4 countries apply a similar model of depoliticized and disciplined forces, with restrictions enshrined in the constitution and in line with European case law. The study emphasizes that the legitimacy of restrictions is conditional on their proportionality and fair compensation for members. Special attention is paid to the relationship between legal limits, motivation, and loyalty, which fundamentally affect the stability of the forces and thus regional development. In conclusion, the article states that the current legal framework is fundamentally sound, but the challenge for the future remains to maintain a balance between protecting security and respecting the rights of individuals.
Keywords: Security Forces, Restrictions of Fundamental Rights, Proportionality, V4 Countries, Political Neutrality, European Case Law
pages: 22-30, online: 2026
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