The competition for the statue of Milada Horáková is being prepared in the center of Prague

Prague - In the center of Prague, a statue of the politician Milada Horáková could be created as early as this year. Organizers are currently finalizing the competition conditions, the details of which should be known by mid-February, said Prague 1 councilor Martin Jan Stránský today to ČTK. Two locations in Vrchlického sady, Malostranské náměstí, or Sněmovní street are being considered as possible sites. After the February coup, the communist regime sentenced national socialist MP Horáková to death in a fabricated trial.
    The monument is to be life-sized, and it should be immediately clear to people at first glance that it is a statue of Horáková, noted Stránský. The effort to create the monument is being pursued by the Club of Dr. Milada Horáková alongside Stránský.
    Together, they have formed a jury that is preparing the conditions for the competition. Their outline could be known by mid-February. After that, the proposal will be submitted to the Prague 1 council for consideration.
    "In cooperation with various city authorities and experts, we have managed to assemble a truly outstanding group of advisors and a jury for the artistic competition. These are significant names, such as Jan Hendrych, Jan Kerel, and one of the most respected theorists of modern art, Jaromír Zemina," stated Stránský. The jury also includes representatives from the Czech Chamber of Architects and Prague 1.
    The organizers want to raise funds for the monument through a collection. Stránský does not expect that financial issues will cause any difficulties for the initiative. "The project will be such that everyone will understand that it is a major undertaking," he noted.
    Originally, the proposal considered placing the monument in Vrchlického sady, either near Opletalova or near Washingtonova street, so that it would be close to Petschkův palace, where Horáková was tortured by the Gestapo during World War II. Now there are also proposals for two more frequented locations at Malostranské náměstí and Sněmovní street. "However, the feasibility of building the statue of Milada Horáková in these locations still needs to be verified," added Stránský.
    Lawyer and national socialist MP Horáková (1901-1950) participated in the anti-Nazi resistance and was imprisoned in concentration camps for it. In 1949 she was arrested and in June 1950 was sentenced to death in a fabricated trial and executed. According to the prosecution at the time, she was preparing, as the head of a conspiracy center, for a return to capitalism, collaborating with other "traitors of the regime" and passing on important information to hostile agents.
    In honor of Horáková, a monument with a bust was also created in Prague in 2009 in the park at náměstí Hrdinů in Prague 4, near the prison and court building.