Czechs mark 12th anniversary of the death of Václav Havel

Czechs on Monday marked the 12th anniversary of the death of the country’s first post-communist president and icon of the Velvet Revolution Václav Havel. Politicians and members of the public laid flowers and lit candles at his grave in Prague's Vinohrady Cemetery and in the evening dozens of people joined a commemorative march to Prague Castle in his memory. Senate chair Miloš Vystrčil stressed the need for the country to uphold the values Havel reinstated – freedom and democracy, conscience, responsibility and patriotism.

President Havel died at his country cottage in Hrádeček on December 18, 2011 at the age of 75.