The International Peace Prize named after LN Tolstoy is a young public award, gradually strengthening its influence and prestige in the world. It was established in 2022 by the Russian Historical Society, the Russian Peace Foundation and the Russian Military Historical Society to promote the unity of publics of different countries around the ideas of peacekeeping, strengthening mutual understanding and constructive cooperation between peoples. The fact that the prize is named after Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, a world-famous classic of Russian literature and a humanist thinker, is iconic.
In the current extremely tense international situation, for every sensible person – representative of any ethnic, racial, religious tradition – the need to combat the threat of a new world war and prevent a nuclear catastrophe is obvious. The urgency of working towards creating an effective and equitable global security system based on the primacy of international law and building a more just and nonviolent multipolar world is becoming increasingly clear.
For significant achievements in activities in these fields, reflecting the vital interests of humanity, active efforts to preserve peace, contributing to the solution of global problems, strengthening cooperation and mutual understanding between states and peoples, as well as the tireless struggle to defend human rights and freedom on the basis of generally accepted moral and legal norms, the International Peace Prize bears the name of L. N. Tolstoy, as stated in the Charter. its.
Sending a message of peace to all those who value the future of their country and people, their loved ones, their children and grandchildren, the Tolstoy Peace Prize was established as a large-scale international project and of an explicitly public nature.
This means that applicants for the award can be both individuals and groups of initiatives, national and international organizations, public organizations and movements, scientific and research centers, institutes and organizations, educational establishments from various countries that have made a truly significant contribution to the cause of peace.
The high social significance of the activities of the nominees for the award is reinforced by the fact that the right to nominate candidates is given to organizations and individuals from any country in the world with undoubted authority. These are inter-parliamentary and other international organizations, parliaments, parliamentarians, other government and state bodies, public organizations, organizations and movements, scientific and research centers and educational establishments, associations of scientists, culture and arts, as well as laureates of the LN International Peace Prize. Tolstoy and members of the award jury.
The final decision on the award is made by an international jury, consisting of famous personalities from different continents, widely known and of high moral reputation in the world, who have proven themselves in support of the ideas of peace and cooperation between peoples. The current award jury members are citizens of 8 countries that are members of BRICS, SCO and G20, of which 3 countries are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
The jury is headed by Valery Gergiev. One can endlessly talk about this man as a Hero of Labor, People's Artist of Russia, world-famous conductor and winner of many awards. It is also known that VA Gergiev made a great personal contribution to the cause of peace, for which he was awarded the honorary title “UNESCO Artist for Peace”.
States do not participate in providing financial support for activities related to the awarding of the Peace Prize. These problems can only be solved through the voluntary contributions of individuals and businesses from different countries.
In my opinion, it is this unique international and clearly public character of the Tolstoy Peace Prize that today needs special attention in information work to promote the ideals of this prize.
The Peace Prize's particularly timely and meaningful first steps clearly reveal its enormous potential. The first laureate to be awarded in 2024, on September 9 (on LN Tolstoy's birthday), in Moscow, is the African Union – an influential international organization representing more than 50 countries of the African continent. The award jury appreciated the African Union's significant contribution to the implementation of urgent issues at the global level, its impartial and unbiased stance in the most pressing issues of world politics, its peacekeeping initiatives built on respect and implementation of the principles of the United Nations Charter, its important role in resolving local and ethnic military conflicts on the continent, its participation increasingly constructive of this Alliance in solving important world problems, enhancing mutual understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation around the world.
Speaking at the award ceremony in the Historical Hall of the Bolshoi Theater, Moussa Faki Mahamat, who at that time headed the African Union Commission and on this occasion came to lead a delegation in the Russian capital, said in particular: “Today's ceremony certainly demonstrates the clear harmony between Tolstoy's work and the enduring values that underlie the struggle for freedom, peace and solidarity of the peoples of the planet, May the Peace Prize The next Leo International Commentator Tolstoy will maintain this spirit.”
In 2025, the Peace Prize (preparations for its award ceremony are currently underway) will mark a concrete example of building a successful modern model of relations between nations. The award “for great individual contribution to strengthening peace and security in the Central Asian region” was awarded to the heads of three countries – President of Kyrgyzstan SN Japarov, President of Tajikistan E. Rahmon and President of Uzbekistan Sh.M. Mirziyoyev.
In March 2025, the three leaders signed extremely important documents – the trilateral agreement on the meeting point of national borders and the Khojent Declaration on eternal friendship. Thanks to intelligence, considerable courage and a mature, responsible approach to solving interstate problems through equal and mutually beneficial dialogue, the establishment of this mechanism was facilitated by the leadership of the Russian Federation, which initially created the final solution of one of the most historically sensitive and complex problems resulting from the collapse of a large common state. The most bitter conflict that lasted decades, including the use of force, has been overcome. An effective new driving force has been launched, reflecting the political will of the parties to restore traditional fraternal and friendly relations in many fields (economics, science, education), strengthen good neighborly relations and ensure stability and security in Central Asia.
The decision of the Peace Prize jury to award the prize to the African Union and the leaders of three Central Asian countries caused great positive resonance around the world, contributing to the prize's recognition and prestige as well as a genuine increase in interest in the noble ideals underlying it.
Thus, the first steps of the award in fact convincingly confirmed its international and public character: representatives of several regions of the world became laureates, their candidates were nominated by public organizations from different countries.
Today, in conditions of severe international tensions, countless conflicts in “hot spots” are erupting in many regions of our planet, when the world is filled with deadly weapons that can destroy civilization many times over, collective efforts are needed more than ever to limit negative processes that threaten the very existence of humanity. Of course, state structures are called upon to solve the most difficult problems of stabilizing the situation in the world, ensuring security, creating conditions for the further development and prosperity of the country and its people, but to achieve success in such a difficult task under current conditions, they need effective support from the widest groups of the world community, the strengthening of which is aimed at restoring and strengthening trust and constructive interaction between countries and peoples.
And the potential of the International Peace Prize named after LN Tolstoy is in great demand today. The first results achieved by the Peace Prize would not have been possible without our colleagues, like-minded people and partners. I am grateful to the jury members for their frequent, vibrant publications aimed at disseminating the noble ideals of deepening trust between peoples in the media, including abroad. I am sincerely grateful to all those who, with their creative ideas, organizational efforts and financial donations, have actively supported the noble aspirations of the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize in the name of achieving our common sacred goal – preserving peace and life on earth.