The L.N. Tolstoy International Peace Prize is awarded for:

• outstanding achievements in activities aimed at countering the threat of unleashing a third world war and at preventing a nuclear catastrophe;
• significant contribution to ensuring universal and equal security based on the rule of international law, ending the arms race, building a multipolar and nonviolent world, strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation between peoples;
• important achievements in the demilitarization, democratization and humanization of international relations on the basis of generally accepted norms of morality and law, as well as in solving global problems of our time;
• active peacemaking and tireless efforts in defense of human rights and freedoms.

L.N. Tolstoy is a world-renowned classic of world literature, a great Russian writer and thinker, widely recognized and acknowledged as a symbol of Russian culture as a whole. The name of L.N. Tolstoy, the scope of his legacy and personality, most fully correspond to the idea and goals of the international peace prize, which is intended to be awarded to individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to the cause of peace and friendship between nations.

The Prize is awarded by an international jury formed by the founders of the L.N. Tolstoy International Peace Prize Foundation. The Jury consists of both Russians and foreign citizens who have a broad international recognition and authority.

Applicants for the Prize may be individuals, initiative groups, national and international public foundations, organizations and movements; scientific and research centers, institutes and institutions, educational institutions.

Nominations for the Prize are put forward by: inter-parliamentary and other international organizations, parliaments, governmental and other bodies of states, public foundations, organizations and movements, scientific and research centers, institute and institutions, educational institutions, scientific, cultural and artistic associations, prize winners and members of the Jury.
Self-nomination for the Prize is not allowed.

The list of documents is not specified or regulated. It is expected that the essential biographical information of the candidate will be provided, along with a detailed explanation of the grounds for nomination in accordance with the Statute of the prize.
Only documents written in Russian and English languages are accepted for consideration.

Documents should be sent to the address of the L.N. Tolstoy International Peace Prize Foundation: 121069, Moscow, P.O. Box 38, and/or to the email address: TolstoyPeacePrize@mail.ru.

Nominations for the Prize received by March 31st are considered in the year of their submission. Nominations received after the above-mentioned deadline are generally considered in the year following their submission.
However, in 2023, the first year of the prize ceremony, the Board of Trustees of the Foundation announced the acceptance of nominations for the prize from April 12th to June 20th, 2023. The applicant's documents are sent to the Foundation, which conducts their preliminary evaluation and then submits them to the Jury for consideration. The Jury's decision regarding the awarding of the Prize is announced on L.N. Tolstoy's birthday, which falls on September 9th of the corresponding year or on another date determined by the Jury's decision.

The Jury gathers opinions and evaluations from the Russian and international public regarding the candidates nominated for the Prize. They review the nominations, determine the laureates, and make decisions regarding the awarding of the Prize. The jury's decision is made through a confidential voting process. It requires a majority of votes from the participating jury members to reach a decision.