Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya received the Magnitsky Human Rights Award on Thursday. She was honored together with her husband, Siarhei Tsikhanouski.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Tsikhanouskaya said she was dedicating the award to all Belarusian political prisoners.
“For me it is a great honor to receive the Magnitsky Award and to share it with my beloved husband Siarhei.
Tonight we would like to dedicate it to all those who, like Sergei Magnitsky himself, suffer behind bars but refused to bow to injustice.
We dedicate it to Ales Bialiatski, our Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who even in prison still dreams of a free, European Belarus.
To Katsyaryna Andreeva, the journalist who continued her live broadcast even as she was being arrested on air.
To Masha Kalesnikava, who tore up her passport, refusing to leave the country under coercion.
To Andrzej Poczobut, the Polish-Belarusian journalist who refused to kneel and beg “forgiveness” from the dictator.
To Mikalai Statkevich, the officer and politician who refused illegal deportation and was again abducted by Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s henchmen.
We dedicate this award to all 1,300 political prisoners. They have been taken hostage for their love of their country and for freedom,” she said.
The Magnitsky Award was established by British businessman Bill Browder and the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign in honor of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in custody. He had been arrested after uncovering a major corruption scheme. His death led to the adoption of the U.S. Magnitsky Act, which imposes sanctions on human rights violators.