The Russian authorities, quickly to offer their condolences to the North Koreans over Kim Jong-il's death, while perennially silent over the passing of former Czechoslovak and Czech Republic President Václav Havel, casts aspersions on each and everyone of us. The authorities' silence is meaningful, so it is our human duty to raise our voice against this greatest of insults against the Czech people, against the humiliation and disgrace that now burdens each of us.

We all in one way or another are the descendents of Havel, while our tight-lipped government is the descendent of the Soviet leaders who sent in tanks to squash the Prague Spring in August 1968. The clear lack of desire to find at least some words of sympathy for an entire nation mourning over Havel's death is a perfect example of the moral impurity of the group of people who for some reason decided that they are the state. The horror of it all, however, is that it's as if they are maintaining their silence on behalf of us as well.

Now, what's left for us is to remember, speak and act. Renaming Bolotnaya Square in honour of Václav Havel could be the first step down this road.

We are now collecting signatures to make this a reality.