The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj recognized the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the human rights organization of his compatriot Olexandra Matviychuk as a special event. “This year, for the first time, the language of Ukraine, our Ukrainian language, was heard at the ceremony – thanks to the Center for Civil Liberties and its director, Ms. Matviychuk, who was awarded the Peace Prize,” Zelenskyy said.
“I congratulate Ms. Olexandra, her colleagues and all Ukrainian human rights defenders on this recognition,” the Ukrainian President said yesterday. Human rights activists from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Saturday.
Alongside the Center for Civil Liberties (CCL) in Ukraine, the defunct Russian organization Memorial and imprisoned Belarusian human rights lawyer Ales Byalyatsky were honored with the world’s most important political award.
The prize was awarded on International Human Rights Day. Selenskyj took this as an opportunity to officially introduce this day for Ukraine as well. “Until this year in Ukraine there was no national day of gratitude and respect for the human rights movement – for all those who devote their lives to protecting and restoring people’s rights,” he said.