A Russian journalist has donated the Nobel Peace Prize to fund raise for Ukrainian refugees

Dmitry Muratov, the year's Nobel Peace Prize winner, speaks at a media briefing at the Prime Minister's home in Oslo, Norway, on December 11, 2021. Image Credit: Reuters

Dmitry Muratov is a Russian journalist who has decided to donate his Nobel Peace Prize to help Ukrainian refugees.

"Novaya Gazeta and I have chosen to donate the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Medal to the Ukrainian Refugee Fund," Muratov stated in an article, reported by Reuters.

"Over ten million refugees have already fled," Muratov added. "I request that the auction houses answer and put this world-famous prize up for auction."

According to the United Nations, more than 3.5 million Ukrainians have fled the country, with another 6.5 million internally displaced.

Muratov and Maria Ressa, a Filipino journalist, shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021.

According to Reuters, Muratov is the editor-in-chief of the Novaya Gazeta newspaper, which has been critical of the Kremlin and the Ukraine war.

Stop combat fire, release prisoners, release the bodies of the dead, establish humanitarian corridors and assistance, and support refugees, according to the paper.

The journal announced in March that it would remove references to Russia's actions in Ukraine from its online after the government threatened to prosecute those who spread "disinformation" about the conflict or information that the government does not approve of.

For opposing the war, a person might face up to 15 years in prison under the new law.

During the invasion, tens of thousands of Russians have been jailed for attending anti-war protests.

The Russian government refers to its actions in Ukraine as a "special military operation," and refuses to recognize that Ukrainian civilians have been targeted.

The Hills