Maria Kolesnikova is imprisoned as an opposition activist in Belarus. She received an important human rights award for her work.
The Belarusian oppositionist Maria Kolesnikowa has been awarded the prestigious Vaclav Havel Prize of the Council of Europe. The President of the Parliamentary Assembly, Rik Daems, paid tribute to them as a symbol of courage at the award ceremony on Monday in Strasbourg.
The prisoner Kolesnikova’s sister, Tatyana Khomich, accepted the award and said that her sister would presumably dedicate it to the Belarusian people. Millions of Belarusians fought every day to build their future and be free.
Commitment to human rights
With the Vaclav Havel Prize, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has been honoring commitment to human rights since 2013. The prize is endowed with 60,000 euros and named after the deceased civil rights activist and former President of the Czech Republic. The award usually takes place during the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly.
In addition to Kolesnikowa, the organization Reporters Without Borders and the human rights activist Germain Rukuki from Burundi were nominated for the Vaclav Havel Prize this year.
Members of the 47 countries of the Council of Europe meet four times a year for the Parliamentary Assembly. The Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, watches over human rights in its member countries and is not an organ of the European Union.
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
