New York: What is the price of peace? This question can be partially answered on Monday night when Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov auctioned off his Nobel Peace Prize medal. Proceeds will go directly to UNICEF in its efforts to help children displaced by the war in Ukraine. Muratov, who was awarded the gold medal in October 2021, helped found the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta and was editor-in-chief of the publication, when it was shut down in March amid public discontent over Kremlin journalists and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. was given. ,
It was Muratov’s idea to auction his prize, having already announced that he was donating a $500,000 cash prize to charity. The idea of the charity, he said, is to ‘give children refugees a chance for a future.’
Muratov said he was particularly concerned about the children who have been orphaned by the conflict in Ukraine, news agency PTI reported.
“We want to return their future,” he said.
He said it was important that international sanctions against Russia do not prevent humanitarian aid, such as medicine for rare diseases and bone marrow transplants, from reaching those in need.
In a video released by Heritage Auctions, Muratov said, “This has to be the start of a flash mob as an example so people can auction off their valuable possessions to help Ukrainians.” ,
Russian journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov, distraught by the abolition of free media in his country, is auctioning his Nobel medals for Ukrainian refugees, where he says at least people support Moscow’s military campaign https://t.co/AT1BvbKjcc pic.twitter.com/NPhV94jfsV— Reuters (@Reuters) June 17, 2022
Muratov shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Philippine journalist Maria Russa last year.
Despite coming under attack from persecution, their governments, and even death threats, the two journalists, each of whom received their respective medals, were recognized for their fight to preserve free speech in their respective countries. awarded for.