On November 13, the Magnitsky Award ceremony took place in London. Since 2015, this award has been presented to journalists, politicians, and activists for their work in defending human rights. It is awarded annually in London at the initiative of Bill Browder and the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign.
This year’s laureates are Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Siarhei Tsikhanouski.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya spoke at the ceremony and dedicated the award to political prisoners in Belarus:
“It is a great honor for me to receive the Magnitsky Award and to share it with my beloved husband Siarhei. Tonight, we would like to dedicate it to all those who, like Sergei Magnitsky himself, suffer behind bars yet refuse to bow to injustice.
We dedicate it to Ales Bialiatski, our Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who continues to dream of a free, European Belarus even in prison.
To Katsiaryna Andreyeva, a journalist who kept livestreaming even as she was being arrested on air.
To Maryia Kalesnikava, who tore up her passport, refusing to leave the country under duress.
To Andrzej Poczobut, a Polish-Belarusian journalist who refused to kneel and ask the dictator for ‘forgiveness’.
To Mikalai Statkevich, an officer and politician who refused illegal deportation and was abducted again by Lukashenka’s enforcers.
We dedicate this award to all 1,300 political prisoners. They have been taken hostage for their love of their country and of freedom”.
