Czech President Petr Pavel has appealed for global unity in defending democracy, truth, and freedom of the press amid rising authoritarianism and disinformation worldwide.
Delivering a keynote address to hundreds of delegates from more than 100 countries at the opening session of the 29th Forum 2000 conference in Prague, Czechia, on Monday, President Pavel warned that Russia’s war on Ukraine is not only a military assault but also a battle of narratives aimed at weakening democracies worldwide.
He said Russia seeks to dismantle democratic systems and divide the trans-Atlantic community, saying it has never been ready to negotiate in good faith, but instead doubled its efforts to break Ukraine’s morale and distort the truth about its war.
President Pavel cautioned that disinformation has become one of the most powerful weapons of modern authoritarianism, citing pro-Russian disinformation websites producing more content than well-established media.
“Disinformation is a rabbit hole—easy to fall into, and much harder to climb out of,” he said, emphasizing the vital role of a strong, independent press as the cornerstone of democratic resilience.
“We need independent media to spread truth, not hatred or manipulation,” President said, but noted, however, noted media freedom alone is not enough to secure a strong democracy, saying democratic countries need to safeguard strong academia, an independent judiciary, and the rule of law to ensure that power always serves the public good.
Held from October 12-14, the Forum 2000 Conference themed “Facing the Odds: Democratic Resilience in Action”, brought together leaders, diplomats, academics, journalists, and activists from over 100 countries.
Speaking earlier, Forum 2000 Executive Director Jakub Klepal said the conference aims to confront the interconnected crises facing democracies today, from polarization and populism to digital manipulation and global conflict.
“Some of these challenges are of our own making … But hope is based on experience and on our collective effort. Forum 2000 remains a place of hope,” said Klepal.
And on Sunday night during the welcoming session, the Forum 2000 presented its International Award for Courage and Responsibility to Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, editor of the independent media platforms Batumelebi and Netgazeti.
Amaglobeli was arrested in January 2025 during peaceful protests in Batumi and later sentenced to two years in prison. International observers have condemned the arrest and sentencing as a politically motivated trial, as she has been denied adequate medical care in prison, becoming a symbol of defiance and integrity in Georgia’s struggle for democratic freedoms.
She joins other Forum 2000 award recipients who were imprisoned at the time of their recognition, including Venezuelan lawyer Rocío San Miguel and Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan.
Meanwhile, conference participants issued a joint appeal for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Myanmar.
The appeal highlighted the worsening health of the 80-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who has been held in solitary confinement since the 2021 military coup. It described her case as emblematic of Myanmar’s suffering, where the junta’s campaign of terror has displaced millions and left thousands dead.