Vaclav Havel, Former Czech President and Symbol of Resistance, Dies at 75

Prague, Czech Republic - President Vaclav Havel, a playwright and dissident who led the Velvet Revolution that toppled communism in Czechoslovakia in 1989, has died at the age of 75.

Havel, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1996, had been in declining health for several months. He passed away peacefully at his home in the northern Czech town of Hradecek on Sunday morning, according to his wife, Dagmar Havlova.

Havel was one of the most prominent figures in the 20th-century struggle for democracy and human rights. He was a co-founder of the Charter 77 movement, which challenged the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia. He was also a key figure in the Velvet Revolution, which led to the peaceful overthrow of the Communist government in 1989.

After the Velvet Revolution, Havel was elected president of Czechoslovakia. He served in that role until 1992, when Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Havel remained a prominent figure in Czech politics after his presidency. He was a strong advocate for human rights and democracy, and he often spoke out against corruption and authoritarianism. He was also a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Havel's death has been met with an outpouring of grief and mourning from around the world. He was widely respected as a symbol of courage, integrity, and compassion.