Ivan Medek

He was a brother of the Czech painter Mikuláš Medek and the son of the general Rudolf Medek. Medek was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, on July 13, 1925. He began his career as both a classical music critic and journalist. He worked as a musician for the Czech Philharmonic until he was fired by the government for his support of the opposition. Medek was an original signatory of the Charter 77 manifesto in 1977. Persecution by the communist government for his participation in Charter 77 forced Medek into exile in neighboring Austria beginning in 1978. Medek began working at the Voice of America in Austria, where he broadcast news and information into Czechoslovakia. His VoA radio broadcasts became an important link for anti-communist dissidents in his native Czechoslovakia. Medek returned to Czechoslovakia from exile in 1989 during the Velvet Revolution. In 1993, Medek was appointed to the office of the presidency under Václav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic. He later became the head of the presidency, or chancellor, under Havel. Medek died in Prague on January 6, 2010, at the age of 84. He was survived by his wife, Helena.

The recorded working language is Czech. Work by Ivan Medek is recorded in the collections of Ivan Medek Collection of the Czechoslovak Documentation Centre, VONS Collection at Libri Prohibiti, Václav Havel Library and Video and Audio Library of the Literary Archive of the Museum of Czech Literature. Distinctions recorded are Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, class III, 1st of June Award, Ferdinand Peroutka Award and participant in the resistance and resistance against communism.

His recorded language was Czech. He was the child of Rudolf Medek and Eva Medková. He married Ljuba Medková. Other recorded relations include Antonín Slavíček.

Ivan Medek is recorded as having received Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, class III, 1st of June Award and Ferdinand Peroutka Award.