Butkevich, a human rights defender captured by the Russians, became a laureate of the Anne Frank award
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Ukrainian human rights defender, journalist, public figure and military man Maksym Butkevich, captured by the Russians, became a laureate special award named after Anne Frank.
This award from the Embassy of the Netherlands in the USA is awarded every year for a significant contribution to the protection of human rights, said Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA.
“#FreeMaksymButkevych. Very touched by the Anne Frank Award ceremony held annually by the Netherlands Embassy in the USA. It honors individuals for significant contributions to the cause of human rights protection, the fight against anti-Semitism, racism and hate speech.” – wrote Markarova.
Maksym’s father, Professor Oleksandr Butkevich, came to receive his son’s award.
| Photo: ZMINA |
Oksana Markarova said that in her speech during the award ceremony, she mentioned the chestnut tree near Anne Frank’s family home in Amsterdam, which became a symbol of the Anne Frank award.
“About the chestnut, which is a symbol of indomitable Kyiv, our capital, which was occupied by the Nazis in 1941 and which Russian troops tried to occupy in February 2022. It is thanks to such indomitable warriors as Maxim that we manage to continue the fight for our independence and for our victory“– added Markarova.
We will remind you that Maksym Butkevich is a participant of the Revolution on Granite, a teacher at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, a journalist, a co-founder of ZMINA and Public Radio, a coordinator of the “Resource Center for Assistance to Forced IDPs”, a member of the Committee of Solidarity with Kremlin Hostages and the “Without Borders” project.
From the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia, he joined the army, and in June 2022 he was captured in the Luhansk region.
The Russian occupiers “sentenced” Butkevich on trumped-up charges of “cruel treatment of the civilian population” and imprisoned the human rights defender for 13 years.
Read also: At the Berlinale, they called for the release of Maksym Butkevich from Russian captivity
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