Lyudmila Alexeyeva, Russia's oldest human rights activist and the founder of Moscow Helsinki Group, responded to the news of her nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize with delight on Thursday.
"I'm very glad. On the entire planet, only 200 candidates wound up on this list. They are all very worthy candidates and organizations. To be included among them is a great honor," Alexeyeva told Interfax.
U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin, the initiator of the Magnitsky Act, which imposed sanctions on Russian officials suspected of human rights violations, nominated Alexeyeva as a candidate for the award in a letter sent to the Nobel Committee on Jan. 29.
In late December, Alexeyeva said she was "grateful to the U.S. Congress" for the Magnitsky Act, adding that "our dream is that later, our violators … will be punished within our own justice system," Reuters reported.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
