Vladimír Bystrov
Encyclopedia
Vladimír Bystrov was a Czech journalist, film critic, commentator and translator.
in 1920, settled in Prague
, but then was taken back to Russia to a concentration camp at the end of World War II
. This had a great effect upon the young Bystrov’s life, as he eventually became the chairman of the “Oni byli prvni”, or, “They Were the First” Committee, an organization founded by the few survivors and the descendants of Czechoslovak citizens abducted to the Soviet Union
who helped document the fates of Russian and Ukrainian
immigrants who were taken by force to the said camps. The name “Oni byli prvni” refers to the fact that those victims of Soviet abduction were the first victims of communism on Czechoslovak soil.
, Bystrov was mostly a film critic until 1971, when he was banned from publishing by the occupying Russian communists for twenty years. After the collapse of the communist regime in November 1989, he returned to journalism, writing mainly political commentaries and historical essays. Until 1992 he headed the foreign desk of Reflex
and he was the editor-in-chief of the PRO weekly and daily Lidové noviny
and later at the Czechoslovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1994 he was a co-owner of the Bystrov and sons publishing house and from 2003 an independent publisher. He also translated Russian literature, mainly non-fiction.
decorated him with the state Order of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk. In 2008, he was made a Rudolf Medek Award (in Czech
: Cena Rudolfa Medka) laureate. http://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=cs&u=http://nfan.cz/cena-rudolfa-medka/nominacni-temata&ei=5ugHTPq7HIH68AaalJzzCw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCIQ7gEwAQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522Ceny%2BRudolfa%2BMedka%2522%26hl%3Den
Since 1995, the Office for Documentation and Investigation of Communist Crimes has published studies documenting the communist era. The Abductions of Czechoslovak Citizens to the Soviet Union between 1945 and 1955, written by Bystrov, is available free of charge from that office.
Bystrov died in Prague after a long illness at the age of 74.
Early life
Bystrov was the son of Nikolay Vladimirovich Bystrov, who fled RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in 1920, settled in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, but then was taken back to Russia to a concentration camp at the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. This had a great effect upon the young Bystrov’s life, as he eventually became the chairman of the “Oni byli prvni”, or, “They Were the First” Committee, an organization founded by the few survivors and the descendants of Czechoslovak citizens abducted to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
who helped document the fates of Russian and Ukrainian
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
immigrants who were taken by force to the said camps. The name “Oni byli prvni” refers to the fact that those victims of Soviet abduction were the first victims of communism on Czechoslovak soil.
Career
After graduating from the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in PragueFilm and TV School of The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague
The Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague or FAMU is one of the oldest film schools in Europe. Located in Prague, Czech Republic, FAMU was founded in 1946 as one of three branches of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague...
, Bystrov was mostly a film critic until 1971, when he was banned from publishing by the occupying Russian communists for twenty years. After the collapse of the communist regime in November 1989, he returned to journalism, writing mainly political commentaries and historical essays. Until 1992 he headed the foreign desk of Reflex
Reflex (magazine)
Reflex is a Czech weekly magazine focusing on political, social and cultural topics. It was founded in 1990 and is currently owned by the Swiss media corporation Ringier. It is one of the Czech Republic's most controversial and widely read social-political magazines; its print circulation of 60,000...
and he was the editor-in-chief of the PRO weekly and daily Lidové noviny
Lidové noviny
Lidové noviny is a daily newspaper published in the Czech Republic. It is the oldest Czech daily. Its profile is nowadays a national news daily covering political, economic, cultural and scientific affairs, mostly with a centre-right, conservative view...
and later at the Czechoslovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1994 he was a co-owner of the Bystrov and sons publishing house and from 2003 an independent publisher. He also translated Russian literature, mainly non-fiction.
Later career and death
In 2007 President Václav KlausVáclav Klaus
Václav Klaus is the second President of the Czech Republic and a former Prime Minister .An economist, he is co-founder of the Civic Democratic Party, the Czech Republic's largest center-right political party. Klaus is a eurosceptic, but he reluctantly endorsed the Lisbon treaty as president of...
decorated him with the state Order of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk. In 2008, he was made a Rudolf Medek Award (in Czech
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
: Cena Rudolfa Medka) laureate. http://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=cs&u=http://nfan.cz/cena-rudolfa-medka/nominacni-temata&ei=5ugHTPq7HIH68AaalJzzCw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCIQ7gEwAQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522Ceny%2BRudolfa%2BMedka%2522%26hl%3Den
Since 1995, the Office for Documentation and Investigation of Communist Crimes has published studies documenting the communist era. The Abductions of Czechoslovak Citizens to the Soviet Union between 1945 and 1955, written by Bystrov, is available free of charge from that office.
Bystrov died in Prague after a long illness at the age of 74.