Imprescriptibility of murder is a proposed amendment to the Criminal Code under which the crime of murder, and possibly other offences involving intentional killing, would cease to be subject to a statute of limitations. Under current law a thirty-year limitation period applies to murder, after which the offender's criminal liability lapses [1]. The topic is significant in Czechia because in autumn 2026 the Senate, the government and the Chamber of Deputies are dealing with it simultaneously, both as a senators' bill and as part of coalition and opposition amendments [1][2].*

The Senate proposal

The senators' amendment was submitted in June 2026 by a group of seven senators led by Senate Deputy Speaker Jitka Seitlová (KDU-ČSL) [1]. The Senate's constitutional and legal committee recommended the amendment, and the upper chamber was due to decide on it on Wednesday; if approved, the bill would go to the government for assessment and then to the Chamber of Deputies [3]. The authors justify the need for the law by the development of forensic techniques, which allow old cases to be clarified retrospectively, and by the interest of bereaved families and the public [1]. According to Seitlová, by abolishing the limitation period for murder Czechia would join a number of other states, including neighbouring Austria and Germany [1]. The Senate amendment would apply only to murders committed after it takes effect, that is from 1 July 2027, so imprescriptibility could apply for the first time in July 2057 [1].

Coalition and opposition proposals in the Chamber of Deputies

Justice Minister Jeroným Tejc (ANO) supported the Senate proposal, but the coalition wants to push through a similar provision by its own route, within an amendment extending the offence of non-payment of maintenance [1]. The coalition provision would also include some other acts involving intentional killing among the imprescriptible offences [1]. A similar proposal, under which premeditated murder and other offences involving intentional killing would be made imprescriptible, was prepared by a group of deputies from ANO, SPD and the Motorists; their provision would also apply to some acts involving general endangerment, terrorist attack and terror, which carry an exceptional punishment [1][2]. Deputy Speaker of the Chamber Barbora Urbanová (STAN) also proposed adding her own similar provision to the same amendment; her proposal envisages imprescriptibility of murder in all forms and of other offences punishable by an exceptional sentence, where death was or was meant to be intentionally caused [1][2].

Further procedure

According to available information, the Chamber of Deputies was to discuss the similar coalition and opposition proposals probably in October 2026; the Senate proposal would then serve as a fallback in case the Chamber's amendment failed to pass [3].

Chronology

  • — The Senate drafted its own bill removing the statute of limitations for murder and will offer it to the Chamber of Deputies. iDNES.cz Lidovky.cz

Sources

  1. iDNES.cz — 26 September 2026
  2. Lidovky.cz — 26 September 2026
  3. Blesk.cz — 26 September 2026