Hav ‧ el, Vác ‧ lav /ˈhæv ə l, ˈvɑːtslæf/ BrE AmE
(1936–) the president of the Czech Republic from 1993–2003 and Czechoslovakia from 1989–1992. Before 1989, Havel led peaceful opposition against the Communist government of Czechoslovakia, and this became known as the ‘Velvet Revolution’. He is also a well-known writer for the theatre.