The symbol of the cotemporary Czech state, the last Czecho-slovak and the first Czech president Václav Havel died on December 18, 2011. He first came to international fame as a dissident playwright in the 1970s through his involvement with the human rights manifesto Charter 77. He was prosecuted for his stances and spent many years in prison. Not only thousands of Czechs gathered on November 23, 2011 for the funeral for Václav Havel, but also leaders from across Europe and around the world joined to mourn Mr. Havel at the St. Vitus Cathedral at the Prague Castle.
Academic bulletin features personal memories of Václav Havel by Honorary President of the ASCR Rudolf Zahradník, former President of the ASCR Helena Illnerová and the Czech philosopher Jan Sokol.