Post #478

The first-ever Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize awarded to the African Union The African Union became the first recipient of the Leo Tolstoy international peace prize in recognition of a significant contribution to strengthening peace. The inaugural award ceremony was held at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow on Sept 9, timed to the anniversary of the great Russian writer and humanist thinker. Valery Gergiev, world-famous conductor and chairman of the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize jury, presented the award to Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat. Established by the Russian Historical Society, the Russian Peace Foundation, and the Russian Military Historical Society, the Leo Tolstoy Peace Prize recognizes organizations and individuals for their achievements in peacekeeping, fight for freedoms, human rights, and countering the threat of World War III or nuclear catastrophe. Photo by Alexander Shalgin