Czech President Petr Pavel opened the 29th Forum 2000 Conference in Prague on Monday, appealing for global unity in defending democracy, truth, and freedom of the press amid rising authoritarianism and disinformation.
Speaking before hundreds of delegates from more than 100 countries, 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.
“Russia seeks to dismantle democratic systems and divide the trans-Atlantic community,” Pavel said.
He said Russia was never ready to negotiate in good faith, but instead doubled its efforts to break Ukraine’s morale and distort the truth about its war.
Pavel cautioned that disinformation has become one of the most powerful weapons of modern authoritarianism.
“In Czechia, pro-Russian disinformation websites produce more content than well-established media,” he noted.
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“Disinformation is a rabbit hole—easy to fall into, and much harder to climb out of.”
Pavel underscored the vital importance of a strong, independent press, calling it the cornerstone of democratic resilience.
“We need independent media to spread truth, not hatred or manipulation,” he said.
Pavel, however, noted that media freedom alone is not enough to secure a strong democracy, emphasizing the need to safeguard strong academia, an independent judiciary, and the rule of law to ensure that power always serves the public good.
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,” said Klepal.
“But hope is based on experience and on our collective effort. Forum 2000 remains a place of hope.”
On Sunday night, the Forum 2000 presented its International Award for Courage and Responsibility, established in 2021 to honor extraordinary civic courage in defending democracy and promoting human rights.