On 29 September, in the hall of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Ukrainian human rights activist, journalist and veteran Maksym Butkevych became the winner of the prestigious Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. This was announced by Yevheniia Kravchuk, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy and member of the Permanent Delegation to the PACE.
«For the first time in history, this high award goes to a citizen of Ukraine!
His path is the embodiment of the struggle of modern Ukraine. A human rights activist who has been saving refugees for years. A journalist who built free media. Once a pacifist, he did not hesitate to take up arms to defend his land. A prisoner of war who went through the hell of russian torture chambers, was illegally convicted, but did not give up.
This award is the world's recognition of the superhuman courage of one man and, at the same time, the resilience of an entire people fighting for their right to exist.
As Maksym himself aptly put it: «Where there is no opportunity to create meaning, we gradually cease to be human beings.» He creates meaning for all of us.
Ukraine is proud!»