Physicist wins court battle against Zeman

The Prague Appellate Court has ruled that the head of state, President Miloš Zeman, must reconsider his decision not to appoint physicist Ivan Ošťádal professor. The court upheld an appeal by the academic and Charles University against the president’s decision, arguing that he had violated the rules governing the appointment of professors and principles of academic freedom. Historian Jiří Fajt whom the president likewise refused to appoint professor in 2015 has also taken his case to court.

In Mr. Ošťádal’s case, the president cited the physicist’s alleged ties to the communist –era secret police; in Mr Fajt’s case, his decision related to a compensation plan at the National Gallery.

Radio Praha