President paid tribute to Jan Palach

To mark the 55th anniversary of student Jan Palach's self-immolation in the centre of Prague, Slovak President Zuzana Caputova stated on her social network that his message to our generation remains clear. "The desire for freedom cannot be extinguished. Freedom is a value that deserves our care and protection."

On January 16, 1969, 20-year-old student Jan Palach poured petrol on himself in front of the old building of the National Museum in Prague and set himself on fire. Passers-by tried to extinguish the flames with their coats, and Palach was then taken to a hospital by ambulance. He died three days later as a result of severe burns. By his act, Palach wanted to awaken the people of Czechoslovakia from their lethargy after the country's occupation by Warsaw Pact troops in August 1968. His act met with an extraordinary response not only at home, but abroad as well.

TASR