Czech president denies pardon to imprisoned artist

Czech artist Roman Týc, currently serving the second week of a month-long jail term, has been denied a pardon by the Czech president. Týc was imprisoned after refusing to pay a 60,000 crown fine levied by the authorities as punishment for the artist’s defacing red and green traffic light figures in 2007 to show them in situations such as drinking, urinating and being hanged. Numerous civic initiatives have sprung up in recent months supporting Týc’s cause, while the artist pinned his hopes on a presidential pardon. According to the president’s office, Klaus carefully weighed the case, but ultimately decided not to intervene. Meanwhile, Týc’s lawyer contacted the Czech Justice Minister Jiří Pospíšil last week, asking him to send the case to country’s Supreme Court, arguing that the entire prosecution of Týc for vandalism was unwarranted.