The journalist and former captive of the Russian Federation Maxim Butkevich received the Havela Prize (photo, video)
"Ukrainian journalist and human rights activist Maxim Butkevich became a laureate of the Vaclav Gavel Prize in 2025. Two other journalists, from Georgia and Azerbaijan, became the second nominees of the award, which is awarded for human rights protection worldwide," the publication reads. It is about Mzius Amaglobeli from Georgia and Abzas Media Director Ulvi Hasanley from Azerbaijan. Butkevich dedicated his award to those who are now captive - both military and civilian.
"I take part in this ceremony and receive this honorary award not only on my own behalf, but also on behalf of all Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians illegally detained. authoritarian regimes that seek to silence free media and freedom of speech, "he said during his speech. The chairman of the "Servant of the People" Party Presopice Yevgeniy Kravchuk shared photos and videos from the award ceremony on Facebook.
She emphasized that Butkevich's path is the embodiment of the struggle of modern Ukraine. "This award is a recognition by the world of superhuman courage of one person and at the same time the stability of the whole people, which fights for his right to exist. As Maxim said," where there is no way to create meanings, we stop being people a little. "He makes sense for all of us," she wrote.
The Vaclav Gavel Prize is awarded to the PACE in partnership with the Vaclav Gavel Library and Hart 77, since 2013, and is 60 thousand euros. The founder of the Ukrainian radio station "Public Radio", the human rights activist, co-founder of the ZMINA Human Rights Center and the journalist of the agency "Ukrinform" Maxim Butkevich after a full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation joined the Armed Forces, and in June 2022 he was captured.
The so -called "LDNR Supreme Courts" sentenced him to 13 years in prison. The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation argued that he was convicted, among other things, for "attempted murder of two people and damage to another's property" - part 3 of Art. 30 pp. "A, E" Part 2 of Art. 105 of the Criminal Code.
On June 4, Butkevich allegedly entered one of the apartments in Severodonetsk, Lugansk region, seeing in the house opposite the civilians, Butkevich "shot into the entrance for the purpose of murder. " As a result, two people were injured. In August 2024, the Court of Appeal in Moscow left a sentence unchanged. Where Maxim Butkevich was kept - it was unknown for a long time.
Only on December 6, 2023, lawyer Leonid Solovyov announced that he was in a colony in the city of Krystal (former Krasny Luche) in the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk region. For two years, the Kremlin refused to return it, contrary to the efforts of Ukrainian negotiators. The journalist was released on October 18, 2024 during the exchange of 95 for 95.
When Butkevich was released, he said that he was captured by the Russian Federation on June 21, 2022 near the village of Mirna Valley of Luhansk region. The platoon he commanded was brought to the Russians a Ukrainian, who was forced to torture and promise to save his lives. According to Maxim, he does not keep evil on this person. We will remind, Maxim Butkevich entered the rating of focus "Ukrainian of the year".