# Václav Žák

> Czech member of Czech National Council, politician and publicist

**Wikidata**: [Q11986028](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11986028)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Václav_Žák)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/vaclav-zak

## Summary
Václav Žák was a Czech politician, publicist, computer scientist, and signatory of Charter 77 who served as a member of Czech National Council and editor-in-chief of Listy publication. He played a significant role in Czech political opposition during the communist era and contributed to the development of informatics in Czechoslovakia.

## Biography
- Born: July 28, 1945, in Tábor
- Nationality: Czech Republic
- Education: Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering CTU in Prague (up to 1960)
- Known for: Signatory of Charter 77, editor-in-chief of Listy, member of Czech National Council
- Employer(s): Civic Forum
- Field(s): informatics, computer programming, commentary, politics, political science

## Contributions
Václav Žák made substantial contributions to Czech political opposition and informatics. As a signatory of Charter 77, he participated in the human rights movement that challenged the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. As editor-in-chief of Listy, he provided a platform for independent political thought and analysis during a time of censorship. In his professional capacity as a computer scientist and programmer, he contributed to the field of informatics which dates back to 1957 in Czechoslovakia. His work in computer programming placed him among the early practitioners of software engineering in the region. Žák also served as a member of Czech National Council representing Civic Forum after the Velvet Revolution, helping to shape the new democratic Czechoslovakia.

## FAQs
### Q: What was Václav Žák's role in Charter 77?
A: Václav Žák was a signatory of Charter 77, a human rights document that criticized the communist government of Czechoslovakia for failing to implement human rights provisions in the 1975 Helsinki Accords.

### Q: What publication did Václav Žák lead?
A: Žák served as the editor-in-chief of Listy, an important independent publication that provided a platform for political discourse during the communist era and transition to democracy.

### Q: What political party was Václav Žák associated with?
A: He was a member of Civic Forum, the political movement that played a key role in the Velvet Revolution that ended communist rule in Czechoslovakia in 1989.

### Q: What was Václav Žák's educational background?
A: He was educated at the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering CTU in Prague.

## Why They Matter
Václav Žák's significance lies in his dual contributions to political resistance and technological development in Czechoslovakia. As a Charter 77 signatory, he belonged to the intellectual opposition that maintained the ideals of democracy and human rights under communism, ultimately contributing to the peaceful Velvet Revolution. His role as editor-in-chief of Listy helped preserve independent thought during censorship and provided intellectual foundation for the democratic transition. Simultaneously, his work in informatics and computer programming contributed to developing technological expertise in Czechoslovakia during a period when the state had limited international technological exchange. Without his and others' efforts, Czech political discourse and technological development might have followed a different trajectory, potentially with weaker democratic institutions and less technological advancement.

## Notable For
- Signatory of Charter 77, the influential human rights movement in communist Czechoslovakia
- Editor-in-chief of Listy, a significant independent publication
- Member of Czech National Council after the Velvet Revolution
- Early contributor to informatics and computer programming in Czechoslovakia
- Associated with Civic Forum, the movement that led to the Velvet Revolution

## Body
### Personal Information
- Full name: Václav Žák
- Born: July 28, 1945, in Tábor, Czech Republic
- Died: September 14, 2025, in Český Brod, Czech Republic (age 80)
- Nationality: Czech Republic
- Sex: Male
- Native language: Czech
- Languages spoken: Czech

### Professional Background
- Occupation: Writer, journalist, politician, computer scientist, programmer
- Fields: Informatics, computer programming, commentary, politics, political science
- Political party: Civic Forum
- Position held: Member of Czech National Council, member of parliament

### Education
- Institution: Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering CTU in Prague
- Period: Up to 1960

### Notable Roles
- Editor-in-chief of Listy
- Signatory of Charter 77
- Member of Czech National Council

### Identifiers
- ISNI: 0000000057995222
- VIAF ID: 84124996
- Czech parliament ID: 4624
- CBDB.cz author ID: 68972
- DatabázeKnih.cz author ID: 106514
- National Library of Poland MMS ID: 9810548840205606
- Slovak National Library (VIAF) ID: vtls012915141
- Library of Congress authority ID: no2021008141
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/121bk8zc
- Filmový přehled person/company ID: 32067
- Biographical Dictionary of the Czech Lands ID: 135910

## References

1. Czech National Authority Database
2. [Ve věku 80 let zemřel Václav Žák, signatář Charty 77 a šéfredaktor Listů. iDNES.cz. 2025](https://www.idnes.cz/zpravy/domaci/vaclav-zak-chartista-charta-77-listy-obcanske-forum-of.A250914_163118_domaci_berr)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. [Source](https://viaf.org/viaf/data/viaf-20230206-links.txt.gz)