The legendary Russian human rights defender has been proposed for the prize by Łukasz Kamiński, the President of the Institute of National Remembrance, who also gave a laudation about the winner who is often refered to as „the conscience of Russia" (biography of Sergey Kovalev).

Mr. Kamiński stressed that the award „is a tribute to the intrepid defender of human rights, which he chose for the first time when he stood in defense of the persecuted. However, we should bear in mind that this award is an obligation for us, because what Sergey Kovalev has been fighting for is our common cause, while indifference leads to a global catastrophe”.

The award ceremony took place during the international conference „The Return of the Fallen Empires” held on 15-16 October 2015 by the Villa Decius Association in Kraków.

The Polish Prize of Sérgio Vieira de Mello, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, was presented for the twelfth time. With the prize the jury honors individuals and non-governmental organizations for their work towards peaceful coexistence and cooperation of communities, religions and cultures.

This year, alongside Sergey Kovalev, the prizes were given: in the category of „Person" to Pietro Bartolo, an Italian doctor who takes care of the illegal immigrants in Lampedusa and in the category of „NGO" to „La Strada” Foundation against Trafficking, and Slavery which, among other projects, conducts a program „The Prevention of trafficking of women from Central and Eastern Europe”.

More about the conference: http://villa.org.pl/villa/en/aktualnosci-post/16155/