Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov sells Nobel Prize for Ukrainian youngsters

What’s the worth of peace? That query may very well be partially answered Monday evening when Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov auctions off his Nobel Peace Prize medal. The proceeds will go on to UNICEF in its efforts to assist youngsters displaced by the struggle in Ukraine.

Muratov, awarded the gold medal in October 2021, helped discovered the impartial Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta and was the publication’s editor-in-chief when it shut down in March amid the Kremlin’s clampdown on journalists and public dissent within the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

It was Muratov’s concept to public sale off his prize, having already introduced he was donating the accompanying $500,000 money award to charity. The concept of the donation, he stated, “is to give the children refugees a chance for a future.” In an interview with The Associated Press, Muratov stated he was notably involved about youngsters who’ve been orphaned due to the battle in Ukraine.

“We want to return their future,” he stated.

He added that it’s necessary worldwide sanctions levied in opposition to Russia don’t forestall humanitarian assist, reminiscent of drugs for uncommon ailments and bone marrow transplants, from reaching these in want.

“It has to become a beginning of a flash mob as an example to follow so people auction their valuable possessions to help Ukrainians,” Muratov stated in a video launched by Heritage Auctions, which is dealing with the sale however not taking any share of the proceeds.

Muratov shared the Nobel Peace Prize final yr with journalist Maria Ressa of the Philippines.

The two journalists, who every obtained their very own medals, have been honored for his or her battles to protect free speech of their respective nations, regardless of coming beneath assault by harassment, their governments and even loss of life threats.

Muratov has been extremely vital of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and the struggle launched in February that has precipitated almost 5 million Ukrainians to flee to different nations for security, creating the most important humanitarian disaster in Europe since World War II.

Independent journalists in Russia have come beneath scrutiny by the Kremlin, if not outright targets of the federal government. Since Putin got here into energy greater than 20 years in the past, almost two dozen journalists have been killed, together with at the least 4 who had labored for Muratov’s newspaper.

In April, Muratov stated he was attacked with crimson paint whereas aboard a Russian prepare.

Muratov left Russia for Western Europe on Thursday to start his journey to New York City, the place reside bidding will start Monday afternoon.

Online bids started June 1 to coincide with the International Children’s Day observance. Monday’s reside bidding falls on World Refugee Day.

As of early Monday morning, the excessive bid was $550,000. The buy worth is anticipated to spiral upward, probably into the tens of millions.

“It’s a very bespoke deal,” stated Joshua Benesh, the chief technique officer for Heritage Auctions. “Not everyone in the world has a Nobel Prize to auction and not every day of the week that there’s a Nobel Prize crossing the auction block.” Since its inception in 1901, there have been almost 1,000 recipients of the Nobel Prizes honoring achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or drugs, literature and the development of peace.

The most ever paid for a Nobel Prize medal was in 2014, when James Watson, whose co-discovery of the construction of DNA earned him a Nobel Prize in 1962, offered his medal for USD 4.76 million. Three years later, the household of his co-recipient, Francis Crick, obtained USD 2.27 million in bidding run by Heritage Auctions, the identical firm that’s auctioning off Muratov’s medal.

Melted down, the 175 grams of 23-karat gold contained in Muratov’s medal can be value about USD 10,000.

The ongoing struggle and worldwide humanitarian efforts to alleviate the struggling of these affected in Ukraine are sure to stoke curiosity, Benesh stated, including it’s arduous to foretell how a lot somebody can be prepared to pay for the medal.

“I think there’s certainly going to be some excitement Monday,” Benesh stated. “It’s it’s such a unique item being sold under unique circumstances … a significant act of generosity, and such a significant humanitarian crisis.” Muratov and Heritage officers stated even these out of the bidding can nonetheless assist by donating on to UNICEF.