Remembering Havel’s dream

Commentary feature by Ondrej Ditrych, lecturer of international politics at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic.

The 17 November 2014 was the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, the ending of communist rule in the former Czechoslovakia.

During celebrations in Prague to mark the anniversary, protests against current Czech President Milos Zeman took place. Critics accuse Zeman of betraying the commitment to human rights enshrined by Václav Havel, and of being too pro-Russian.

• Primary Source

BBC News, 17.11.14: Czech Republic Slovakia: Velvet Revolution at 25 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30059011

The Guardian, 17.11.14: Czechs pelt their president with eggs at Velvet Revolution anniversary http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/17/czechs-pelt-president-milos-zeman-eggs-velvet-revolution-anniversary

BBC News, 17.11.14: Czech president pelted with eggs on revolution anniversary http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30086495

The Conversation, 17.11.14: Czechs and Slovaks still search for truth and love, 25 years after the Velvet Revolution http://theconversation.com/czechs-and-slovaks-still-search-for-truth-and-love-25-years-after-the-velvet-revolution-34260

EurActiv, 17.11.14: Czechs mark Velvet Revolution anniversary with red cards and candles http://www.euractiv.com/sections/central-europe/czechs-mark-velvet-revolution-anniversary-red-cards-and-candles-310076

EUObserver, 18.11.14: Hungarians, Czechs hold anti-government protests http://euobserver.com/political/126556

Euronews, 17.11.14: Czech president Milos Zemen pelted with eggs during protest http://www.euronews.com/2014/11/17/czech-president-milos-zemen-pelted-with-eggs-during-protest/

Euronews, 17.11.14: Protests in Prague on anniversary of the Velvet Revolution http://www.euronews.com/2014/11/17/protests-in-prague-on-anniversary-of-the-velvet-revolution/

Deutsche Welle, 17.11.14: Czechs honor Velvet Revolution, tell President Zeman to resign http://dw.de/p/1DolZ

Lidové noviny, 18.11.14: Czechs finally rise up against Zeman (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE153846-Czechs-finally-rise-up-against-Zeman

Euronews, 20.11.14: Czech president urged to quit by protesters http://www.euronews.com/2014/11/20/czech-president-urged-to-quit-by-protesters/

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