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President Václav Klaus on Friday signed into law a bill confirming former president Václav Havel’s role in modern Czech history. The bill, which states that “Václav Havel served freedom and democracy”, was approved by both houses of the Czech Parliament where it received backing from all political parties with the exception of the communists. Two other Czech leaders were similarly honoured in the past: Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk in 1937 and Edvard Beneš in 2004. Former president, dissident and playwright Václav Havel died in December at the age of 75.

This week marks the 35-year-anniversary of the founding of Charter 77, an informal civic initiative against the communist regime. Many of its signatories would later become important figures in post-communist Czech society, such as philosopher and playwright Václav Havel, who was elected the country’s first president after the revolution. Now, the anniversary of the charter is being honored in Prague with a week-long commemoration, the Week of Charter 77.

A week of events marking the 35th anniversary of the Charter 77 human rights manifesto has kicked off in Prague. The series of special events organized by former dissidents and Charter 77 signatories includes exhibitions, seminars and a series of special performances of the late Vaclav Havel´s plays. A photo exhibition at the plaza of the National Theatre is called “Prague through the lens of the secret service” and is a compilation of photographs the communist secret police made in the process of spying on and following dissidents. Charter 77 week is also intended to honour the memory of philosopher and Charter 77 spokesman Jan Patočka who became the first victim of the communist backlash against the Charter 77 manifesto. He was arrested and died of a stroke shortly after undergoing an 11-hour interrogation by the communist secret police.

Signatories of the Charter 77 human rights manifesto will mark its 35th anniversary next week with a series of cultural and commemorative events, including special performances of Vaclav Havel´s plays. Charter 77 Week, held from March 12-18, will offer the public exhibitions, seminars and debates with former dissidents. It is also intended to honour the memory of philosopher and Charter 77 spokesman Jan Patočka who became the first victim of the communist backlash against the manifesto. He was arrested and died of a stroke shortly after undergoing an 11-hour interrogation by the communist secret police.

A memorial event took place on Wednesday at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London to remember the late Czech president Václav Havel. The event was organized by the Czech Ambassador to the United Kingdom Michael Žantovský and was attended by around 300 dignitaries including Prince Charles and the visiting Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas. At the event, numerous presentations took place including music performances, documentary screenings and readings by the actor Jeremy Irons of Havel's letters to his first wife Olga. The British playwright Tom Stoppard was also in attendance.

The Senate has passed a law recognising the accomplishments of the recently deceased former Czech president Václav Havel. The law was proposed shortly after the former president’s death last December; the ultimate language of the legislation notes that the former president “worked for freedom and democracy” in the country. 52 of 59 senators present voted for the legislation with only the Communist Party opposed. However, the law, which must now be signed by Havel’s successor Václav Klaus, was not without controversy. Of 100 senators who could have voted on the measure, many chose to abstain. According to Christian Democrat Petr Pithart and Social Democrat Jiří Dientsbier, while Havel’s contribution is not in doubt, the idea that a law is an appropriate way to mark this is questionable.

A wax heart sculpture made in memory of the late president Vaclav Havel has been installed on the plaza of the Czech National Theatre. The sculpture made by artists Lukáš Gavlovský and Roman Švejda was created from left-over wax from the many thousands of candles that Czechs lit for Vaclav Havel on town squares around the country. The sculpture is two metres tall and weighs over two tons. Weather allowing, it will remain there until April.

Václav Havel’s film Leaving has been nominated for 12 Czech Lion awards. The semi-autobiographical adaptation of a play of the same name by the late president was his first and only foray into filmmaking, something he had long wanted to do. Despite nominations in every possible category, Leaving received lacklustre reviews upon release. Another directorial debut by Zdeňek Jirásek, Poupata, was nominated for ten awards. Nevinnost by Jan Hřebejk and Alois Nebel by Tomáš Luňák were each nominated in eight categories.

This month in Mailbox we read from your letters of condolence on the death in December of the former president Václav Havel, we read from your feedback regarding Radio Prague's programmes and we quote from your answers to January's mystery Czech quiz question. Listeners/readers: Michael Fanderys, Jayanta Chakrabarty, Stephen Hrebenach, Steve Olear, Hans Verner Lollike, Mary Lou Krenek, Jaroslaw Jedrzejczak, Charles Konecny, Vladimir Gudzenko, Colin Law.

Czech MPs have passed a bill acknowledging late ex-president Václav Havel’s contribution to freedom and democracy. The simply-worded proposal received backing from all the parties in the Chamber of Deputies except the Communists. The bill will now head to the Senate. A similar law was issued by the Czechoslovak parliament in 1930, recognising the contribution of President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk to the establishment of independent Czechoslovakia. Prime Minister Petr Nečas reminded MPs that Mr Havel, a champion of democratic thought, freedom and humanism, contributed to the fall of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia in 1989. Mr Havel, who continued to support human rights worldwide, died in December at the age of 75.