The 2022 Nobel Peace Prize awarded this Friday to a Belarusian lawyer and two civil entities, one Russian and one Ukrainian. They all have the same thing in common: his struggle for respect for human rights and civil liberties against the oppression of the Russian regime and its vassal the Belarusian.
Berit Reiss-Andersen, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, tasked with awarding the Nobel Peace Prize every year, announced shortly after 11:00 European time that this year’s winner is the Belarusian lawyer. Ales Bialiatskithe Russian organization memorial and Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties.
Reiss-Andersen explained that the three winners “They represent civil society in their countries” and that “for many years they have been promoting the right to criticize power and protect the fundamental rights of citizens. They made an extraordinary effort to document war crimes human rights violations e abuse of power. Together they demonstrate the importance of civil society for peace and democracy “.
The Nobel Committee, in its communiqué, also explains that the winners of this edition, “with their constant commitment to humanist values, anti-militarism and the principles of law, have revitalized and honored Alfred Nobel’s vision for peace. and brotherhood among nations, a much needed vision in today’s world. “
Who are they
The Ukrainian organization Center for Civil Liberties was founded with the aim of promoting human rights and democracy in Ukraine.
His work, says the Nobel Committee, “strengthened Ukrainian civil society and lobbied the authorities to create Ukraine. a complete democracy“.
Since the Russian invasion, this organization “has been involved identify and document Russian war crimes against the Ukrainian population ”and“ plays a pioneering role in holding the parties responsible for their crimes ”.
Memorial, Russian organization declared foreign agent by the Kremlinwas founded in 1987, in the grip of the Soviet regime, by human rights activists who wanted the millions of victims of that regime. Memorial, says the Nobel Committee in an explanation that may resonate in countries with a repressive past like Argentina“Is based on the concept that addressing past crimes is essential to prevent new crimes.
The award recalls that during the wars in Chechnya, the Memorial organization collected and verified information on abuses and war crimes perpetrated against the civilian population by Russian forces. Their leader in Chechnya, Natalia Estemirova, was killed to quit your job.
The third winner is the Belarusian lawyer Ales Bialiatsky. From the mid-1980s, when Belarus was still part of the Soviet Union, he began his work in the democratic movement. His life, recalls the Nobel Committee, «was dedicated to promoting democracy and pacifism in his country “.
Bialiatski is the founder of the organization Viasna (Spring). Since 1996 this organization has been defending human rights and promotes protests against the authorities for the use of torture against political prisoners.
From 2020 is imprisoned without trial. “Never”, recalls the press release of the Nobel Committee, “gave up an inch in his fight for human rights and democracy in Belarus”.
Brussels, special
ap
Source: Clarin
