Velvet Revolution

The commemorations bring mixed emotions. For some, they are a celebration of freedom and democracy. Others feel nostalgia for more certain times. And as the nation looks back, parties are looking forward to a general election early next year.

Celebrating freedom

But the organisers called a pause over the summer holidays and asked protesters to reconvene on November 16, the day before the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. 

Can the protest movement now regain momentum through a new wave of protests, and even if it does, will it ever have a decisive impact on Czech politics?

Chramostova signed the Charter 77 petition demanding the regime respect human rights and was banned from performing in public again.

By contrast, Gott publicly urged his fellow artists to sign the "Anti-Charter" opposing the dissidents and became the "golden voice" of the conformist "Normalisation" period of the 1980s. 

Thousands of Czechs have protested against Czech President Milos Zeman on the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, which ended communist rule.