The Russian Nobel Peace Prize co-winner claims the Kremlin pressured him into declining his prize.
Refuse Noble Prize: The president of Memorial, Yan Rachinsky, said he was advised not to receive the award because the other two laureates were judged "inappropriate." These other laureates were a Ukrainian human rights organization and a detained Belarusian rights advocate.
Refuse Noble Prize Picture Source: Internet
One of Russia's first human rights organizations, Memorial, was banned by the Kremlin in December last year.
We have reached out to the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment.
Mr. Rachinsky claimed his organization had been told to withdraw the prize, but "naturally, we took no note of this advice" in an exclusive interview with the BBC's HARDtalk program.
Mr. Rachinsky said that the work Memorial was doing was still crucial despite the threats to his safety.
No one's safety can be guaranteed in modern Russia, he said.
"Some people have been killed, that's true. But we all know what happens when the state is above the law. There must be a way out of this hole we're in."
In the past, Memorial has been recording instances of persecution by the Soviet government.
The history study, considered "anti-communist" at the time, landed its first chairman, Arseny Roginsky, in Soviet labor camps.
To paraphrase the Nobel Committee's announcement, "confronting past atrocities is crucial in avoiding future ones." The Memorial was established on this principle.
Mr. Rachinsky praised the "amazing" choice made by the committee to give the medal to individuals from three separate nations.
However, including a Russian laureate has been met with some criticism.
Despite being one of the awardees, Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties director declined to be interviewed with Mr. Rachinsky. During their time in Oslo, the BBC independently conducted interviews with each of them.
The Center for Constitutional Rights was honored for its efforts to protect civil liberties and advance democracy in Ukraine by investigating allegations of Russian war crimes.
Ms. Matviichuk commended Mr. Rachinsky's efforts and called Memorial "our partner" despite her refusal to speak beside her co-winner.
Adding that she had "great respect for all Russian human rights colleagues who operate in terrible situations," she said that Memorial had aided the Ukrainian organization for years.
She also cautioned that peace in Eastern Europe would not arrive until Russia was held accountable for its atrocities.
Because the present system is inadequate, Ms. Matviichuk has called for a new international tribunal to hold President Vladimir Putin and other Russians responsible for their activities in Ukraine.
For the thousands upon thousands of victims of war crimes, she questioned, "Who will deliver justice?"
She also claimed that Russia was exploiting the battle to further its geopolitical agenda and had committed war crimes to gain victory.
Ales Bialiatski, a human rights campaigner from Belarus and the third Nobel laureate, has been imprisoned in his own country since last July.
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In reaction to authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus's violent crackdown on street demonstrations in 1996, he established the Viasna (Spring) Human Rights Centre in the nation.
Mr. Bialiatski served a three-year sentence and was freed in 2014.
Ms. Matviichuk said of her fellow laureate, "He is a tremendously courageous guy. Therefore he will continue this struggle even in jail."
Refuse Noble Prize Picture Source: Internet
One of Russia's first human rights organizations, Memorial, was banned by the Kremlin in December last year.
We have reached out to the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment.
Mr. Rachinsky claimed his organization had been told to withdraw the prize, but "naturally, we took no note of this advice" in an exclusive interview with the BBC's HARDtalk program.
Mr. Rachinsky said that the work Memorial was doing was still crucial despite the threats to his safety.
No one's safety can be guaranteed in modern Russia, he said.
"Some people have been killed, that's true. But we all know what happens when the state is above the law. There must be a way out of this hole we're in."
In the past, Memorial has been recording instances of persecution by the Soviet government.
The history study, considered "anti-communist" at the time, landed its first chairman, Arseny Roginsky, in Soviet labor camps.
To paraphrase the Nobel Committee's announcement, "confronting past atrocities is crucial in avoiding future ones." The Memorial was established on this principle.
Mr. Rachinsky praised the "amazing" choice made by the committee to give the medal to individuals from three separate nations.
However, including a Russian laureate has been met with some criticism.
Despite being one of the awardees, Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties director declined to be interviewed with Mr. Rachinsky. During their time in Oslo, the BBC independently conducted interviews with each of them.
The Center for Constitutional Rights was honored for its efforts to protect civil liberties and advance democracy in Ukraine by investigating allegations of Russian war crimes.
Ms. Matviichuk commended Mr. Rachinsky's efforts and called Memorial "our partner" despite her refusal to speak beside her co-winner.
Adding that she had "great respect for all Russian human rights colleagues who operate in terrible situations," she said that Memorial had aided the Ukrainian organization for years.
She also cautioned that peace in Eastern Europe would not arrive until Russia was held accountable for its atrocities.
Because the present system is inadequate, Ms. Matviichuk has called for a new international tribunal to hold President Vladimir Putin and other Russians responsible for their activities in Ukraine.
For the thousands upon thousands of victims of war crimes, she questioned, "Who will deliver justice?"
She also claimed that Russia was exploiting the battle to further its geopolitical agenda and had committed war crimes to gain victory.
Ales Bialiatski, a human rights campaigner from Belarus and the third Nobel laureate, has been imprisoned in his own country since last July.
Read More News
In reaction to authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus's violent crackdown on street demonstrations in 1996, he established the Viasna (Spring) Human Rights Centre in the nation.
Mr. Bialiatski served a three-year sentence and was freed in 2014.
Ms. Matviichuk said of her fellow laureate, "He is a tremendously courageous guy. Therefore he will continue this struggle even in jail."
