Veronica Tsepkalo, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Maria Kalesnikava have been awarded the Luther prize "Das unerschrockene Wort" ("The intrepid word").
The award ceremony took place on 20th July, 2021 in Trinity Church Dreifaltigkeitskirche in the City of Worms stadtworms in the presence of former President of the Bundestag Professor Norbert Lambert , Prime Minister at State of the Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer, Mayor of Worms Adolf Kessel and media representatives.
In memory of Martin Luther, the prize is awarded every two years by the 16 member cities of the Union of Lutherstädte to people "who, in words and in deed and in the face of resistance, have made important statements in a situation or for a particular occasion towards the municipality or the state". Our brave women also chose to stand up for the freedom of their people, despite colossal oppression and risk to their families and career.
Veronica Tsepkalo is the only one from the famous Belarusian trio who was able to attend the ceremony in person. Maria Kalesnikava is still in prison, and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is on a working visit to the US. Tatsiana Khomich, Maria’s sister, accepted the award on her behalf.
The award comes with a prize of 10,000EUR. Veronica Tsepkalo is donating her third to the Belarus Women's Foundation, to help repressed Belarusian women and their families.