Photo: Ben Skála, Benfoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons²³

Michael Kocáb

Czech musician and political activist (born 1954)

Michael Kocáb (born 28 July 1954) is a Czech composer, singer, and political activist. He is the leader of Pražský výběr, a popular music band suppressed by the Czechoslovak communist regime in the 1980s.²

From Wikipedia’s article on Michael Kocáb (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Jul 28, 1954.¹

About

In the spring of 1989, Kocáb, with Michal Horacek, founded the "Bridge" initiative; after founding of Civic Forum (CF) on November 19, 1989, he organized together with Horacek all negotiations of CF with the communist Prime Minister and his cabinet.

On behalf of CF, Kocáb was also responsible for negotiations with representatives of the Czechoslovak army.

Using his significant political influence, he managed with several people to put through Václav Havel as the sole candidate of CF for the duty of the president – as Havel spoke of this in February 1990 in his speech to the US Congress in 1990.

From 1990 to 1992 he was a member of the Federal Assembly of the CSSR and the CFSR. In his first speeches during joint meetings of the House of Commons and the Chamber of Nations of the Federal Assembly, Kocáb repeatedly demanded an end to the Soviet occupation and declared the Treaty on the temporary stay of Soviet troops in Czechoslovakia invalid. Kocáb led a parliament commission which negotiated the repatriation of Soviet soldiers from Czechoslovakia.

From Wikipedia’s article on Michael Kocáb, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.²

Companies

Bonton GroupFounder²¹
PankrácBoard member 1994 to 1995²²

Career

Occupation: musician, songwriter, politician, singer, composer.⁷

2010Government Commissioner for Human Rights⁶
2009 to 2010Minister for Human Rights of the Czech Republic⁶
1994 to 1995Board member, Pankrác⁵
1993 to 1994Board member, ČKD Polovodiče Praha⁴
Date not recordedFounded Bonton Group³
Date not recordedMember of the Federal Assembly of Czechoslovakia⁶

Business interests

In April 1990, together with Oldřich Lichtenberg and Miloslav Zapletal, Kocáb founded a company called Art Production K, where he served as chairman of the board. In May 1991 he became board member of newly privatized building company Montované stavby Praha (MSP). In January 1992 MSP founded Investment privatization fund TREND (IPF TREND) and Kocáb became chairman of its board. Another board Member was his brother-in-law Martin Kratochvíl. In January 1993, the companies Art Production K (27.5%), Bonton (27.5%), MSP (10%), and Bankovní dům SKALA (35%) founded a limited liability investment company IC TREND to manage the IPF TRENT portfolio for a fee. In February 1995 the managers of IPF TREND founded a closely owned corporation IC TREND for the same purpose. In August 1995 Kocáb, Kratochvíl and other owners of IC TREND sold the company to broker Královéhradecká brokerská společnost (KBS) for a substantial amount of money. The new owners of IC TREND used the acquired company as a vehicle to strip dispersed shareholders of IPF TREND from its assets. After a first fraudulent transaction by KBS managers, used to cover the costs associated with purchase of IC TREND, Kocáb and Kratochvíl resigned from the board of IPF TREND.

Government work

During 2009-2010 Kocáb was Minister for Human Rights and National Minorities in the Government of the Czech Republic. During that time he brokered a deal to move the Squat Milada group, avoiding violence, from the dilapidated vila to Truhlářská 11 for one crown a month. The move was controversial and brought criticism.

From Wikipedia’s article on Michael Kocáb (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

BornJul 28, 1954, Prague^{8 9}
CitizenshipCzechoslovakia, Czech Republic^{9 10}
SpouseMarsha Kocábová 1983 to 2011^{11 12}

Awards

2023Cross of Merit of the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic 3rd Class^{13 16}
2019Silver Medal of the President of the Senate^{13 15}
2017Grand Officer of the Order of the White Double Cross^{13 14}

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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WikidataMichael Kocáb on Wikidata
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WikipediaMichael Kocáb on Wikipedia
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WikidataMichael Kocáb: Founded Bonton Group, on Wikidata
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WikidataMichael Kocáb: Board member, ČKD Polovodiče Praha, on Wikidata
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WikidataMichael Kocáb: Board member, Pankrác, on Wikidata
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WikidataMichael Kocáb: Member of the Federal Assembly of Czechoslovakia, on Wikidata
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WikidataMichael Kocáb: occupation, on Wikidata
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WikidataMichael Kocáb: place of birth, on Wikidata
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Wikidataplace of birth, as reported by Czech National Authority Database
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WikidataMichael Kocáb: citizenship, on Wikidata
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WikidataMichael Kocáb: spouse, on Wikidata
12
Wikidataspouse, as reported by Blesk.cz
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WikidataMichael Kocáb: award, on Wikidata
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Wikidataaward, as reported
15
Wikidataaward, as reported
16
Wikidataaward, as reported
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WikidataMichael Kocáb: X, on Wikidata
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WikidataMichael Kocáb: YouTube, on Wikidata
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WikidataMichael Kocáb: Facebook, on Wikidata
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WikidataMichael Kocáb: IMDb, on Wikidata
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WikidataBonton Group, Founder
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WikidataPankrác, Board member
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Wikimedia CommonsMichael Kocáb photo by Ben Skála, Benfoto, CC BY-SA 4.0