Four Charles University personalities receive state honours

Czechs on Monday marked the 101st anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia. As is tradition on October 28, state honours were awarded by the country’s president at the Vladislav Hall at Prague Castle.

Recipients this year included Corporal Tomáš Procházka (in memoriam – he was killed while serving in Afghanistan), Czech WWII RAF pilot Emil Boček, Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica, and hockey legend Jaromír Jágr.

Four of those to receive honours (Medals of Merit, First Class) are highly-respected individuals at Charles University: obstetrician and professor emeritus Antonín Doležal, biologist and expert on health care ethics Helena Haškovcová, acclaimed eye surgeon Jaroslav Madunický, and internationally-known oncologist Luboš Petruželka.

In all, 42 people received state honours this year.