Awards for five who resisted Nazis, Communists, Russian occupiers

Five people who resisted the Nazis, the Communists or Russian occupiers were honoured at the annual Memory of Nations Awards at Prague’s National Theatre on Friday night.

The prizes went to Czech dissident Jan Litomiský, two Slovak women persecuted by the communist regime, Mária Šidová and Eva Karvašová, a Czech woman imprisoned by the Gestapo, Marie Klangová, and – in a first recognition of current events – Ukrainian Orthodox priest Vasyl Vyrozub.

The award is presented annually by Post Bellum association, which records testimonies of witnesses to major events of the 20th century.

President Petr Pavel attended Friday’s ceremony, the first head of state to do so since the prizes were first presented in 2010.