Petr Janyška

Petr Janyška is a journalist, international affairs specialist, former diplomat and translator. A prominent figure in Czechoslovakia's democratic opposition, he published in the samizdat press before playing an active role in the 1989 Velvet Revolution. A co-founder of the weekly Respekt and former deputy editor-in-chief of Lidové noviny, he later pursued a diplomatic career, serving as Czech Ambassador to France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO. He also directed the Czech Centre in Warsaw and taught at Charles University in Prague. A translator from French, English and Polish, and the author of numerous essays on Central Europe, France and Poland, he has been awarded both the French National Order of Merit and the Order of Arts and Letters.