Václav Havel Prize 2025 Awarded to Ukrainian journalist Maksym Butkevych
02.10.2025 / 11:38 | Aktualizováno: 02.10.2025 / 11:42
The prestigious Václav Havel prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to Ukrainian journalist and human rights defender Maksym Butkevych.
Mr Butkevych is a co-founder of the Zmina Human Rights Centre and of Hromadske Radio. He endured over two years of harsh imprisonment for alleged war crimes before being released in a prisoner exchange in October 2024. He remains a powerful symbol of courage and resilience in defence of justice and freedom.
The Václav Havel Human Rights Prize is awarded each year by PACE, in partnership with the Václav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation. The prize includes a sum of €60,000, a trophy and a diploma.
