President receives hundreds of clemency requests

The Czech Presidential Office has received 447 clemency requests since the start of the year, while President Petr Pavel has granted four pardons so far in 2026. Last year, the office received 1,196 applications, and Pavel granted 15 pardons. Since taking office in March 2023, he has approved 23. Since January 2024, the Presidential Office has handled all clemency applications directly, replacing the previous system under which the Ministry of Justice carried out the initial review. Under former presidents, clemency was used far more frequently, with Václav Havel granting more than 1,800 pardons during his presidential career.