Historian Timothy Snyder awarded Medal of Merit for Diplomacy in Prague

American historian Timothy Snyder, who specializes in the modern history of Central and Eastern Europe, was awarded a Medal of Merit for Diplomacy by Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský in Prague on Monday evening. Lipavský had high praise for the Yale University professor's work, saying that his books, articles and lectures show people the importance of defending freedom and democracy and how easily ideologies can lead to the rise of totalitarian power.

Snyder was in Prague for a conference titled The Borders of (Un)Freedom, organised by Czech Radio and the Václav Havel Library.  His presentation "Havel, Unpredictability and Freedom" was attended, among others, by President Petr Pavel.