On Tuesday, Czech President Petr Pavel honored 48 personalities on the occasion of the Day of the Independent Czechoslovak State at Prague Castle. He lent the highest Czech state award to a Czech composer, playwright and actor Zdenek Svěrák or the world-famous Czech-American sportswoman Martina Navrátilová. Actress Anna Geislerová or the Chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic (GŠ AČR) Karel Řehka also received the award, informs TASR correspondent in Prague.
In his opening speech, Pavel spoke, among other things, about the recent parliamentary elections. “I will do everything to ensure that the results of free elections can be fulfilled in an orderly, peaceful and constructive manner. But I will always, not only in these weeks, draw attention to the violation of the basic values of our constitution and the principles of democracy,” the president emphasized.
He also pointed out that the Czech Republic should guarantee its citizens the highest possible level of security, which, according to him, is today represented by membership in NATO. “If someone claims that we are not in danger and that it is not necessary to strengthen security and defense, citizen awareness, preparedness and resilience,… then they are knowingly lying. And if we lie to ourselves now, we will pay a high price in the future.” he emphasized.
Then the president distributed the awards. He lent the highest Czech state award, which is the Order of the White Lion, five times. This award has military and civilian categories, each with five classes. He lent his 2nd class military category in memoriam to a legionnaire, Czechoslovak Army officer and co-founder of the anti-Nazi resistance organization Defense of the Nation Hugo Vojt. As the representative regional military commander in Bratislava, he directed an action in March 1939, during which soldiers together with gendarmes disarmed the paramilitary units of the Hlinka Guard and arrested most of the Slovak political officials. He was executed in 1941.
Award in the same category, but 3rd class, the president lent in memoriam to an officer of the Czechoslovak foreign resistance and to Jaromír Nechanský, a participant in the anti-Nazi and anti-communist resistance. The Order of the White Lion of the Civil Class 2nd Group was awarded to a Czech playwright, screenwriter, actor, writer and lyricist Zdeněk Svěrak. He was awarded for extraordinary services to the state in the field of culture and art.
In addition to him, this award, but of the 3rd class, was given to the world-famous sportswoman and former world tennis number one Martina Navrátilováwho, according to the Prague Castle, is a “tireless defender of freedom and equality”. In memoriam, the president praised the long-time chairwoman Dana Drábová of the State Office for Nuclear Safety.
Row of Tomáš Garrigu Masaryk the Czech president lent to three people. The 2nd class award went in memoriam to the first to the President of the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic, Otakar Motejl and as well in memoriam to the signatory and spokeswoman of Charter 77, Dana Němcová and 3rd class to the co-founder and long-time director of People in Need Šimon Pánek.
In addition, Pavel awarded eight medals for heroism and 32 for services to the state in various fields. For heroism in saving human life, he awarded, for example, a pupil of the fourth year of elementary school Šimon Malé, who saved his grandfather’s life by pulling him out of the water after he lost consciousness. He was decorated by the president in memoriam for heroism in battle Anna Malinova, which she helped paratroopers from Operation Anthropoid and hid Slovak paratrooper Jozef Gabčík.
For example, Czech actress Anna Geislerová received a medal for services to the state in the field of art. in which the Castle praised her “firm civic attitudes”, or the world-famous Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša, who is currently the music director of the Royal Opera House in London. A war correspondent was awarded in the field of culture Czech Radio in Ukraine Martin Dorázin, in the field of sports Olympians Martin Fuksa and Josef Dostál.
For services to the state in the field of defense, the chief of the GŠ ACR Karel Řehka received a medal. which, according to the Castle, in the critical period since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, decisively plays the main role in ensuring the security of the Czech Republic. Government advisor for national security Tomáš Pojar also received a medal for his important role after the start of the invasion.
According to the head of the president’s office, Milan Vašina, this year Prague Castle chose from approximately 600 proposals for the award. Last year there were almost 550 personalities, with the president awarding 56 of them, compared to 62 two years ago. The ceremony was attended by the highest constitutional officials, deputies, senators, rectors, ambassadors and other guests.
Pavlov’s predecessor Miloš Zeman did not come to Prague Castle, which he justified by convalescence after a recent acute operation for an abscess. He did not participate in the awarding of state honors last year and the year before. However, former president Václav Klaus and his wife and also the widow of ex-president Václav Havel Dagmar came to Prague Castle.
