Late Jiří Hájek not awarded by president over son’s behaviour

The late Jiří Hájek, a leading member of the Czech dissent and one of the first spokespersons of Charter 77 was not decorated on October 28th as planned because his son refused to take part in the official ceremony and to receive the decoration from President Miloš Zeman, the Office of the President confirmed on Friday. The president’s spokeswoman said the president considered Jíří Hájek Jr’s request that it should be sent by post insulting. Hájek Jr made it clear that he did not want to participate in the prize-awarding ceremony at the Prague Castle because he was critical of President Zeman's activities. Rock singer and musician Vladimir Mišík also refused to receive the state decoration from the president.