Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Volha Kavalkova
& Maria Kalesnikava

In 2021, the Prize was granted to more than one person for the first time. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was the leading opposition candidate in the falsified presidential elections of 2020 in Belarus. Currently, she represents Belarusian society in opposition to the Lukashenka regime. Volha Kavalkova cooperates with Tsikhanouskaya and is a part of the Coordination Council’s praesidium. They both were forced to emigrate. Maria Kalesnikava was the head of Viktar Babaryka’s election campaign. When Babaryka was arrested, she joined forces with Tsikhanouskaya. She has been a political prisoner since September 7th, 2020. For this reason, the Prize was collected by her sister, Tatiana Khomich, on her behalf. 

As the President of Wrocław, Jacek Sutryk, emphasised: “Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Maria Kalesnikava and Volha Kavalkova are heroes as they prioritise democracy and human rights over their safety. They are fighting not only for their country but for the whole of Europe. This Prize is our gratitude for your struggle and expresses solidarity and respect for Belarusian society. We support you, and we are with you. Belarus belongs to a democratic Europe.” 

Photo: Gazeta Wrocławska