Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev tried to curtail the Prague Spring’s momentum with a series of talks, meeting directly with Dubcek in late July in the small border town of Cierna nad Tisou.

but Brezhnev refused, and in early 1968 Novotny was replaced as Communist Party Secretary by Alexander Dubcek.

but Brezhnev refused and in early 1968, Novotny was replaced as Communist Party Secretary by Alexander Dubcek.