Anton Srholec Freedom Award 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution

The Trnava Self-Governing Region honoured five public figures for their outstanding contribution to the protection of human rights and to strengthening democracy and the rule of law. The ceremony took place on 9 November 2019 at the Ján Palárik Theatre in Trnava — on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution.

On this occasion, the President of the Trnava Self-Governing Region, Jozef Viskupič, recalled that “the communist regime did not break Anton Srholec. Through his entire life, both before and after 1989, he became a symbol” of faith in human dignity and of the struggle for political and religious freedoms.

The award went to Iveta Radičová, sociologist and former Prime Minister, who collaborated on the samizdat publication Bratislava nahlas (Bratislava Aloud) and took part in the January 1989 letter to President Husák. Another laureate was Michael Kocáb, musician and activist, co-founder of the Most (Bridge) initiative, which in 1989 coordinated negotiations between dissidents and the state authorities.

The award was also presented to Ján Budaj, Member of the National Council, who in November and December 1989 hosted the demonstrations in Bratislava and served as coordinator of Public Against Violence (VPN). Bohumil Chmelík, dentist and educator, organised the Trnava Cultural Forum in 1989. Ľubomír Navrátil, journalist and translator, organised the November protests in Dunajská Streda.