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FREEDOM PRIZE
On 15 September 2011, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the events of 13 January 1991; being aware of the importance of 13 January 1991 for the Lithuanian people and the state of Lithuania and for further political development of the Eastern and Central European region; and stressing the need to further promote the development of democracy and the rule of law, consolidation of human rights, and equitable cooperation in Eastern and Central Europe, adopted the Law on the Freedom Prize of the Republic of Lithuania.
Under the Law, a single prize, amounting to EUR 5,000, is awarded annually (in exceptional cases and in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Law, a second prize of the same amount may be awarded in the same year).
The Freedom Prize honours individuals and organisations for their achievements in and contribution to the defence of human rights, development of democracy, and promotion of international cooperation for the cause of self-determination and sovereignty of the nations in Eastern and Central Europe.
Natural, public and private legal persons from the Republic of Lithuania and foreign countries may be nominated for the Freedom Prize in acknowledgment of their contribution to freedom, democracy and human rights. A candidate for the Freedom Prize is selected by the Freedom Prize Commission.
Every year the Commission selects a candidate for the Freedom Prize and submits its conclusions on the nomination to the Seimas before 23 November. Under the Resolution of the Seimas, the Freedom Prize is nominated before 23 December and awarded annually at the Seimas’ solemn sitting marking the Day of the Defenders of Freedom on 13 January.
WINNERS OF THE FREEDOM PRIZE
Freedom Prize 2011 – Sergei Adamovich Kovalev
Freedom Prize 2012 – Antanas Terleckas
Freedom Prize 2013 – Sigitas Tamkevičius
Freedom Prize 2014 – Adam Michnik
Freedom Prize 2016 – Valdas Adamkus and Vytautas Landsbergis
Freedom Prize 2017 – Nijolė Sadūnaitė
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2011
Sergei Adamovich Kovalev
Under the decision by the Seimas of 13 December 2011, the first Freedom Prize, that of 2011, was awarded to Sergei Adamovich Kovalev, former political prisoner, fighter for freedom and democracy, chair of the Board of the Andrei Sakharov Foundation, chair of the international historical, educational, charitable and human rights society Memorial, and President of Russia’s Human Rights Institute. More
2012
Antanas Terleckas
In accordance with the Law on the Freedom Prize and the decision by the Freedom Prize Commission, the Seimas awarded the Freedom Prize 2012 to Antanas Terleckas, fighter for Lithuania’s freedom, human rights activist, active participant in the unarmed resistance to the Soviet occupation, political prisoner, founder and leader of the Lithuanian Freedom League, initiator of the Memorandum of 45 Baltic Nationals, and underground publisher. More
2013
Sigitas Tamkevičius SJ
The Freedom Prize 2013 was awarded to Archbishop Metropolitan Sigitas Tamkevičius SJ of Kaunas, founder and editor of the underground publication Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, member of the Catholic Committee for the Defence of the Rights of Believers, and prisoner of conscience. More
2014
Adam Michnik
The Seimas awarded the Freedom Prize 2014 to Adam Michnik, well known Polish public figure honoured by numerous awards, former dissident, one of the leaders of the opposition movement Solidarity, journalist, essayist, political publicist and editor-in-chief of Poland’s daily Gazeta Wyborcza. More
2016
Valdas Adamkus
Vytautas Landsbergis
The Freedom Prize 2016 was awarded to two winners: President Valdas Adamkus and Vytautas Landsbergis, Chairman of the Supreme Council-Reconstituent Seimas (the highest state official of the Republic of Lithuania at the time) and Signatory to the Act of Independence. More about Valdas Adamkus, Vytautas Landsbergis.
2017
Nijolė Sadūnaitė
At the solemn Commemoration of the Day of the Defenders of Freedom on 13 January 2018, the Freedom Prize 2017 was awarded to Nijolė Sadūnaitė, freedom fighter and former political prisoner. Owing to her underground activities, Nijolė Sadūnaitė is considered to be one of the most famous Lithuanian dissidents of the time, human rights activist and fighter for Lithuania’s freedom. More