London, Europe Brief News – Jailed activist Ales Bialiatski from Belarus, the Russian organisation Memorial and the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties group have won the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize.
The announcement was made earlier on Friday at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Norway’s capital, Oslo.
The three winners “have made an outstanding effort to document war crimes, human rights abuses and the abuse of power. Together they demonstrate the significance of civil society for peace and democracy”, the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen, further told reporters.
The Nobel Committee called for the release of Bialiatski, who is serving time in Belarus prison on tax evasion charges.
“Our message is an urge to the authorities in Belarus to release Mr. Bialiatski. We do hope this will happen and that he can come to Oslo and receive the honour bestowed upon him,” Reiss-Andersen said.
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said Friday that the decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Bialiatski was “recognition for all Belarusians fighting for freedom and democracy”.
Bialiatski’s wife meanwhile told AFP she was “overwhelmed with emotions. I express my deep gratitude to the Nobel Committee and the international community for recognising the work of Ales, his colleagues and his organisation.”
