Vaclav Havel, Former Czech President and Dissident, Dies at 75

Havel, a playwright and essayist, was a leading figure in the Velvet Revolution that toppled communism in Czechoslovakia in 1989.

He served as president of Czechoslovakia from 1989 to 1992 and of the Czech Republic from 1993 to 2003.

Vaclav Havel, the former Czech president and dissident, died Sunday at the age of 75. Havel was a playwright and essayist who became a leading figure in the Velvet Revolution that toppled communism in Czechoslovakia in 1989.

Havel was born in Prague in 1936. His father was a wealthy businessman and his mother was a social worker. Havel studied drama at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, and his plays were often banned by the communist government.

In 1977, Havel co-founded Charter 77, a human rights group that called for an end to communist rule. He was arrested and imprisoned several times for his activism. In 1989, Havel led the Velvet Revolution, a nonviolent uprising that forced the communist government to resign.

Havel was elected president of Czechoslovakia in 1989. He served until 1992, when Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Havel was then elected president of the Czech Republic, and he served until 2003.

Havel was a strong advocate for human rights and democracy. He was a vocal critic of authoritarianism and corruption. He was also a supporter of the arts and culture.

Havel received numerous awards for his work, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the United States. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Havel's death is a great loss for the Czech Republic and for the world. He was a courageous leader who fought for freedom and democracy. He will be remembered as one of the most important figures of the 20th century.