Cultural figures urge action in support of democracy

Leading cultural figures have called on the public to take part in protest gatherings in support of democracy. In a proclamation issued on the occasion of Czechoslovak Independence Day, several dozen actors, singers and writers criticized the president and government for its "submissive foreign policy" in relation to China saying that the country’s leaders do not have a mandate to turn the helm of the country eastward. They urge the head of state to stop spreading lies and apologize for his behavior. The signatories include the president of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Jiří Bartoška, singer Vojtěch Dyk, head of the drama ensemble at the National Theatre, Michal Dočekal, and journalist Karel Steigerwald, among others.