Interest in the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize is growing

The Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize is a young public award that is gradually strengthening its influence and authority in the world. It was established in 2022 by the Russian Historical Society, the Russian Peace Foundation, and the Russian Military History Society in order to promote the consolidation of the public in various countries around the ideas of preserving peace, strengthening mutual understanding, and promoting constructive cooperation between nations. It is symbolic that the prize was named after Leo Tolstoy, the world-renowned classic of Russian literature and a humanist thinker.
In today's highly tense international environment, it is clear to every reasonable person, regardless of their ethnicity, race, or traditional faith, that it is essential to counter the threat of a new world war and prevent a nuclear catastrophe. The urgency of promoting an effective system of universal and equal security based on the rule of international law and building a non-violent and more just multipolar world is becoming increasingly evident.
The Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize is awarded for significant achievements in these areas, which reflect the vital interests of humanity, as well as for active peacekeeping efforts, contributions to solving global problems, strengthening cooperation and mutual understanding between countries and peoples, and tireless struggle to protect human rights and freedoms based on universally accepted moral and legal norms and the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize is awarded, as stated in its Statute.
Addressing its message of peace to all those who care about the future of their countries and peoples, their loved ones, children, and grandchildren, the Tolstoy Peace Prize was created as a large-scale international project and is explicitly public in nature.
This means that the award can be presented to individuals, initiative groups, national and international public foundations, organizations and movements, scientific and research centers, institutes and institutions, and educational institutions from various countries that make a significant and real contribution to peace.
The high social significance of the activities of those nominated for the award is supported by the fact that the right to nominate candidates is granted to organizations and individuals from any country in the world who have undeniable authority. These include inter-parliamentary and other international organizations, parliaments, parliamentarians, governmental and other state bodies, public foundations, organizations, and movements, scientific and research centers and educational institutions, associations of scientists, cultural figures, and artists, as well as recipients of the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize and members of the prize jury.
The final decision on awarding the prize is made by an international jury, which includes prominent public figures from different continents who are widely known and have a high moral standing in the world, and who have distinguished themselves in promoting peace and cooperation among nations. The current jury members are citizens of eight countries that are members of BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the G20, including three countries that are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
Valery Gergiev is the head of the jury. This man can be talked about endlessly as a Hero of Labor, People's Artist of Russia, a world-renowned conductor, and a recipient of numerous awards. It is also well known that V.A. Gergiev has made a significant personal contribution to the cause of peace, for which he has been awarded the honorary title of "UNESCO Artist for Peace."
States do not participate in the financial support of activities related to the Peace Prize. These issues are resolved solely through voluntary donations from individuals and business organizations from various countries.
It is precisely on this unique international and socially conscious nature of the Tolstoy Peace Prize that I believe we should focus today in our efforts to promote the ideals of this award.
The exceptionally significant and timely first steps of the Peace Prize clearly reveal its enormous potential. The first recipient of the award, which was presented in 2024, on September 9 (Leo Tolstoy's birthday), in Moscow, was the African Union, an influential international organization representing over fifty countries on the African continent. The jury of the award highly appreciated the African Union's significant contribution to addressing pressing issues at the global level, its impartial and unbiased stance on the most pressing issues in global politics, its peacekeeping initiatives based on respect for and implementation of the principles of the UN Charter, its important role in resolving local and ethnic conflicts on the continent, and its increasing constructive participation in addressing significant global challenges and fostering mutual understanding and cooperation worldwide.
Speaking at the award ceremony in the Historical Hall of the Bolshoi Theatre, Moussa Faki Mahamat, who was then the head of the Afro-Union Commission and had come to the Russian capital to lead the delegation, said: "Today's ceremony undoubtedly demonstrates the clear connection between Tolstoy's work and the enduring values that underlie the struggle for freedom, peace, and solidarity among the people of the world. Let the next Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prizes perpetuate this spirit."
In 2025, the Peace Prize (the preparation of the award ceremony is currently underway) recognized a specific example of building a modern and successful model of interstate relations. The award "for significant personal contributions to strengthening peace and security in the Central Asian region" was presented to the heads of three countries: President of Kyrgyzstan S.N. Japarov, President of Tajikistan E. Rahmon, and President of Uzbekistan Sh.M. Mirziyoyev.
In March 2025, the three leaders signed extremely important documents: the Trilateral Treaty on the Point of Intersection of State Borders and the Hodgrent Declaration on Eternal Friendship. Thanks to their wisdom, courage, and a mature and responsible approach to resolving interstate issues through mutually beneficial and equal dialogue, facilitated by the leadership of the Russian Federation, the final resolution of one of the most sensitive and historically complex issues arising from the disintegration of a large common state has been achieved. This marked the end of a decades-long conflict that had escalated to the point of using force. A new effective impetus has been given, reflecting the political will of the parties to restore traditionally friendly and fraternal ties in various fields (economics, science, and education), strengthen good-neighborly relations, and ensure stability and security in Central Asia.
The Peace Prize jury's decision to award the African Union and the leaders of the three Central Asian countries has generated a significant positive response worldwide, contributing to the recognition and credibility of the prize and fostering genuine interest in its noble ideals.
Thus, the first steps of the award in practice convincingly confirm its international and public nature: the laureates are representatives of several regions of the world, and their candidacies were nominated by public organizations from different countries.
Today, in the midst of acute international tensions and numerous conflicts in "hot spots" in many regions of our planet, and with the world teeming with deadly weapons capable of repeatedly destroying civilization, collective efforts are more necessary than ever to curb these negative processes that threaten the very existence of humanity. Of course, it is up to the government to solve the complex tasks of stabilizing the situation in the world, ensuring security, and creating conditions for the further development and prosperity of their countries and peoples. However, in order to achieve success in such a challenging situation, they need effective assistance from the broadest circles of the global community, as well as their consolidation in favor of restoring and strengthening trust and constructive cooperation between countries and peoples.
The potential of the L.N. Tolstoy International Peace Prize is highly sought after today. The first results achieved by the Peace Prize would not have been possible without our associates, like-minded people, and partners. I am grateful to the jury members for their regular and insightful publications that promote the high ideals of deepening trust between nations in the media, including foreign media. I am sincerely grateful to all those who, through their creative ideas, organizational efforts, and financial donations, actively support the noble aspirations of the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize in order to achieve our common goal of preserving peace and life on Earth.