Václav Havel Human Rights Prize 2025

The Council of Europe on September 29, 2025, awarded the prestigious Václav Havel Human Rights Prize to Ukrainian journalist and rights activist Maksym Butkevych, recognising his commitment to human rights and freedom of expression.

From Journalism to the Frontline

Butkevych is the co-founder of Hromadske Radio and the ZMINA human rights centre in Kyiv. In March 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he joined the Ukrainian army.

Detention and Release

In June 2022, Butkevych was captured by Russian forces and later convicted of war crimes by a court in Lugansk, a Russian-controlled region in eastern Ukraine.

• In March 2023, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison on charges of injuring two civilians with an anti-tank grenade launcher in Severodonetsk.
• He was eventually released in October 2024 during a prisoner exchange.

Prize Legacy

The award is named after Václav Havel, the late Czech dissident, playwright, and post-communist president.

• Previous laureates include Maria Corina Machado (Venezuelan opposition leader, 2024) and Vladimir Kara-Murza (Russian activist, 2022).

Significance

Butkevych’s recognition highlights the intersection of human rights, journalism, and conflict, underscoring the resilience of activists who continue to defend democratic values despite persecution.