Dmitry Muratov is a Russian journalist, television presenter, and editor-in-chief of the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta. He is the recipient of the prestigious Nobel Prize. He won it in 2021, but he recently parted ways with it for a humanitarian reason.
In the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Dmitry seems to have taken sides. The journalist decided a good use of his prize and sold it to help Ukrainian children affected by the war.
Dmitry Muratov Sells Nobel Prize To Support Ukrainian Child Refugees
The Russian reporter has decided to auction off his Nobel Peace Prize. The sale of the medal has fetched $103.5 million at auction. The proceeds will go towards supporting UNICEF’s humanitarian relief efforts for Ukrainian child refugees and their families. Heritage Auctions announced Muratov’s great act in a press release on Tuesday.
“Several months ago, we at Novaya Gazeta asked ourselves what we could do to stop the war and help these civilians get their lives back,” Muratov, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper said. The Nobel Peace Prize organization called him a “leading advocate for democracy and freedom of expression in Russia.”
“We decided to sell our Nobel Peace Prize medal through Heritage Auctions, which managed the process very efficiently and waved all their fees and commissions completely,” added Muratov.
When live bidding for the medal began, the price quickly reached the $1 million mark and then kept climbing, according to the auction house’s press release. After about 23 minutes, an anonymous bidder placed the winning bid of $103.5 million over the phone. Heritage Auctions has already sent the money to UNICEF.
The Newsman Has Made Constant Efforts To Stand Against Russian Authorities
Muratov was the TIME‘s Most Influential People of 2022. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 alongside Filipino journalist Maria Ressa. They received the award in recognition of their “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.”
His act of generosity was appreciated by UNICEF. “This remarkable contribution will help Ukrainian children survive this brutal war and, someday, rebuild their lives. We hope Mr. Muratov’s gift inspires others to support vulnerable children in Ukraine and everywhere,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “We also want to thank the anonymous bidder, whose winning bid will do so much for so many.”
Under his leadership, the newspaper has criticized “the Russian authorities for corruption, electoral fraud, and human rights violations.” They shared that their six journalists have been murdered. It was after writing “critical articles on Russian military operations in Chechnya and the Caucasus.”
Muratov was forced to suspend the publication of Novaya Gazeta in late March. He had already received multiple warnings from the government. The suspension will remain until the end of the war in Ukraine.
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