On October 7, The Nobel Prize committee released its list of prize winners. Among them, the Peace Prize was split between an imprisoned Belarusian activist, a Russian human rights organization, and The Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine.
The first of these winners is Ales Bialiatski, who The New York Times refers to as “a pillar of the human rights movement in Eastern Europe.” Bialiatski has been a pro-democracy activist fighting for justice in the oppressed country of Belarus. Belarus’ president Alexander Lukashenko is the only president who has filled the office since its establishment. Lukashenko has allowed President Vladimir Putin to use Belarus in his attack on Ukraine as a place to launch missiles and air strikes. Besides that, Lukashenko’s presidency has been characterized by many Eastern Europeans as tyrannical. Bialiatski has been fighting for democracy in the nation of Belarus for decades. According to the Norwegian Nobel Committee head, Berit Reiss-Anderson, “Government authorities have repeatedly sought to silence Ales Bialiatski.” There currently aren’t many updates on Bialiatski’s health in prison. His wife has responded with immense gratitude, saying she was “overwhelmed with emotion.” Bialiatski has been repeatedly detained, but his most recent imprisonment was in 2021 following a street protest over what is believed to be a fraudulent election for the presidency of Lukashenko. As he is in prison without trial, there is no clear answer as to when he will be released.
Memorial is a Russian human rights organization that began by highlighting the innocent lives taken during the Soviet era. It has transformed into a group that aims to stop misinformation and Russian propaganda to its citizens. Memorial stands deliberately against the Russian government; consequently, the government has attempted to terminate the group many times. But today, it sits firmly in history as a 2022 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Ukraine’s Center for Civil Liberties has been working since 2007 on human rights issues in Ukraine and moving toward ethical governance. The CCL has been especially active in the Russo-Ukrainian war. They have striven to hold those responsible for the war accountable for their tyranny. The Los Angeles Times says that “some Ukrainians expressed resentment for what they saw as lumping Ukraine in the same category as Russia and Belarus.” In media, Ukraine is often placed into a group with Russia and Belarus. Many feel that the three-way split of the Nobel Peace Prize this year perpetuated that issue, especially in light of the war. While the public reaction to the award has been mixed, The CCL says they are grateful to have received the Prize and to be recognized for their work.
The Nobel Peace Prize documents pioneers of peacemaking all around the world. According to The Norwegian Nobel Institute, the 2022 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.”
