Senate chair Vystrčil honors T.G. Masaryk’s legacy

The head of the Senate, Miloš Vystrčil (Spolu), on Sunday paid tribute to Czechoslovakia’s first president, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, on the 88th anniversary of his death. Laying flower’s at Masaryk’ s statue on Hradčany Square Vystrčil highlighted his commitment to democracy, his statesmanship and critical thinking.

On Friday, September 19, officials will open a sealed envelope said to contain Masaryk’s final words. The document was handed to the National Archive in 2005 by Antonín Sum, secretary to Masaryk’s son Jan, with instructions to keep it sealed for 20 years. According to Sum, it contains a message that Masaryk dictated to his son shortly before his death.

Whilst the envelope itself remained safely stored, Antonín Sum was arrested and tried for treason in 1950 by the newly installed communist regime in Czechoslovakia. He served 12 years of his 22-year sentence in prison. After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, Sum regained possession of Masaryk’s archives, which gradually returned to Czechia from abroad. Sum passed away in 2006.

The opening of the envelope at Lány chateau will be attended by President Petr Pavel, and other public figures.