Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Ukrainian, Russian, and Belarusian Activists
Facts
- Jailed Belarusian activist Ales Bialiatski, the Russian organization Memorial, and the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties group have jointly been awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize for their work documenting human rights abuses.
- The Norwegian Nobel Institute announced the winners on Friday in Oslo. Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen, stated that the judges wanted to honor "three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy, and peaceful coexistence" between Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine.
- Reiss-Andersen called on Belarus to release Bialiatski from prison, so the veteran activist can attend the award ceremony on Dec. 10. Bialiatski, head of the Belarusian rights group Viasna, was detained in July 2021 as part of a state response to anti-government demonstrations.
- Dan Smith, head of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, stated that the "[Nobel] Committee is sending a message that political freedoms, human rights, and active civil society are part of peace." The award is the first peace prize since Russian forces invaded Ukraine.
- When asked if the awards were anti-Putin, Reiss-Andersen replied: "We always give the prize for something and to something and not against someone." Each winner will receive approximately $900k.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Newsbud, Guardian, Reuters, and Independent.
Narratives
- Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by DW. Although Reiss-Andersen has dispelled claims that the award was meant to address Putin directly, it's clear that, in reality, the committee's decision is a strong rebuke to Russia and Belarus. This is not a bad thing - the decision has been applauded by human rights activists worldwide and is a gesture of solidarity to those whose access to democracy is under threat.
- Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by Belta. Despite the Western prizes and praise they receive, NGOs run by the likes of Bialiatski simply push political interests under the guise of charitable causes. They shouldn't be applauded, but rather exposed as tools used by the West to impose their ideologies upon those who don't want them.