On September 9, the Historical Stage of Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre will host the announcement of the inaugural Lev Tolstoy International Peace Prize recipient.
Alternative to Nobel Peace Prize
According to Tass this prestigious award aims to honor individuals who have significantly contributed to human rights, arms reduction, and the prevention of a potential third world war.
The decision follows an interview with Vladimir Tolstoy, great-great-grandson of the renowned Russian author and a member of the prize's jury.
In the interview with TASS, Tolstoy explained the rationale behind naming the award after his illustrious ancestor. He noted that the Nobel Peace Prize has become politicized, often recognizing individuals who might not align with Russia's values. In contrast, the Lev Tolstoy Prize seeks to honor those who embody the humanitarian and moral principles Tolstoy championed.
Said No to Nobel Prize
Tolstoy, who famously declined the Nobel Prize in Literature due to Alfred Nobel's invention of dynamite, was a passionate advocate for peace and justice, reflecting his deep personal experiences in war. His works, including "Sevastopol Sketches," profoundly influenced later writers like Hemingway and Remarque, setting a standard for literary depictions of conflict.
The prize will be awarded based on criteria that reflect Tolstoy’s values of compassion and humanitarianism. While the world seems to lack figures of such moral stature today, Tolstoy's legacy inspires a search for individuals who can stand against global conflicts with integrity.
The jury for the prize includes prominent figures such as Valery Gergiev, renowned conductor and head of Russia's Mariinsky and Bolshoi theatres, and Pierre de Gaulle, grandson of the famed French president. Their role is to identify leaders whose actions align with Tolstoy's ideals of global peace and understanding.
