Overview

• Boutkevitch becomes the first Ukrainian laureate, known for founding Hromadske Radio and cofounding the rights group Zmina.
• He was captured by Russian forces in June 2022, sentenced to 13 years in March 2023, and freed in an October 2024 prisoner exchange.
• In Strasbourg, he accepted the prize on behalf of civilians and Ukrainian prisoners of war he says are illegally detained by Russia, recalling his own captivity.
• APCE president Theodoros Rousopoulos called for the immediate release of detained reporters, citing 171 journalists held in Europe early this year, including at least 26 Ukrainians in Russia or occupied territories.
• The shortlist also featured detained journalists Mzia Amaghlobeli of Georgia and Ulvi Hasanli of Azerbaijan, whose imprisonments the Council of Europe characterizes as politically motivated.