Nearly 150 Guests Celebrate the Legacy of a Champion of Freedom
ATHENS, Greece – The Czech Embassy in Athens hosted a remarkable garden party celebrating the life and legacy of Václav Havel, the playwright, dissident, and former Czech president who became one of Europe’s most enduring symbols of freedom and democracy.
Nearly 150 guests, including diplomats, public officials, business leaders, and members of the Czech community, attended the event, which forms part of the nationwide cultural initiative “The Year of Remembering Václav Havel in Greece.”
The Embassy’s gardens became a vibrant cultural venue featuring a live performance by Czech jazz ensemble Lesní zvěř, three photography exhibitions, and a screening of the documentary “Havel Speaking, Can You Hear Me?”
Among the highlights were a photographic tribute to Havel by renowned photographer Oldřich Škácha and an exhibition by Petr Šálek inspired by George Orwell’s iconic novel 1984. Guests also viewed “Just a Perfect Day…”, a collection of photographs by Ambassador Ivo Šilhavý documenting his experiences working alongside the first President of the independent Czech Republic.
The event marks the beginning of a year-long cultural programme commemorating what would have been Havel’s 90th birthday. Throughout 2026, exhibitions and cultural events will travel across Greece, culminating in November with the major event “Athens for Havel” at the city’s “Kentro Technon” cultural center.
Organizers say the initiative aims not only to celebrate Havel’s extraordinary life but also to promote the timeless values he championed—freedom, dialogue, democracy, and mutual understanding—values that remain highly relevant in today’s world.
