Vaclav Havel

Czech writer, playwright, and politician. Born in Prague in 1936. A militant advocate for the liberalization of the regime since the Prague Spring, he became known as a human rights activist, which led to his imprisonment several times. With the end of the communist regime, he was appointed President of the Republic (1989-1992). He resigned when the country was divided following Slovakia's declaration of independence, but in January 1993 he returned to the presidency, having been elected by Parliament.