Institute for Study of Totalitarian Regimes hands out annual freedom awards

The Czech Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes has honoured five individuals and one organisation this year with its annual award for freedom, democracy and human rights. Among them is Hong Kong activist Nathan Law, who is a long-time opponent of China’s crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong and of human rights abuses in the country.

Crimean Tatar historian Gulnara Bekirova and Slovak Charter 77 signatory Mária Didiová also received the award. Underground signer and Charter 77 signatory Karel Charlie Soukup, who was forced to emigrate from Czechoslovakia by the Communist regime and the Czech-born German politician Milan Horáček, who was one of the founders of the Green Party, were the other two recipients this year.

The Polish NGO KARTA Center, which popularises the recent history of Poland and Eastern Europe was also honoured by the institute.