11 Jun, 2024
Russian journalist and democratic opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza is the recipient of this year’s Prize for Freedom Award for his tireless efforts to expose corruption and injustice in Russia.
The Prize is awarded every year by Liberal International, the world federation of over 120 liberal and progressive democratic parties and affiliates, to a well-known personality of liberal conviction who has made outstanding efforts for the defence of freedom and human rights.
On 15 November, a high-level ceremony took place in the House of Lords in London where Evgenia Kara-Murza was presented with the award on behalf of her husband.
“I am honoured and deeply humbled by this award, but I view it first and foremost as a gesture of your recognition and your solidarity with all those Russians who are in prison today because they have refused to stay silent in the face of the atrocities committed by the Putin regime,” said Mrs. Kara-Murza.
1/ Liberal International @liberalinternat presented the 2023 Prize for Freedom Award to @ekaramurza on behalf of her husband, Vladimir Kara-Murza. The high-level ceremony took place in the House of Lords in London. pic.twitter.com/BW8UCNcy8n
— Vladimir Kara-Murza (@vkaramurza) November 15, 2023
A former deputy leader of the People’s Freedom Party and candidate for the Russian State Duma, Mr. Kara-Murza is one of Russia’s most respected democratic opposition leaders and a target of the Russian government for many years.
In 2022, he was arrested on charges of treason after he publicly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and is currently being held in a maximum-security prison in Siberia, with his health condition constantly deteriorating.
“Vladimir’s tireless efforts to expose corruption, injustice, and the erosion of democratic values in Russia have made him a beacon of hope for countless individuals worldwide. His unwavering commitment to truth and his belief in the power of the people to bring about change have inspired a new generation of activists and advocates for freedom,” said Liberal International President Hakima el Haité.
Past recipients of the award include President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado, and recently-acquitted Filipina politician and activist Leila de Lima.
Photo: Liberal International
