A Russian journalist has auctioned off his Nobel Peace Prize for $103.5 million, with funds going towards Ukraine children impacted by the Russian invasion.
Yesterday (June 20), co-winner of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Dmitry Muratov sold the prestigious medal, with proceeds directed to UNICEF's humanitarian response for Ukraine's displaced children, as per Reuters.
Although Heritage Auctions did not reveal who the bidder was, it’s the highest amount the award has ever been auctioned off for, with a previous highest sale being $5 million.
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Before the auction, Heritage Auctions issued a statement that read: "This award is unlike any other auction offering to present.
"Mr. Muratov, with the full support of his staff at Novaya Gazeta, is allowing us to auction his medal not as a collectable but as an event that he hopes will positively impact the lives of millions of Ukrainian refugees."
Last year, the journalist won the award for protecting ‘freedom of expression in Russia’ while serving as the editor for one of the country's major last independent newspapers, Novaya Gazeta.
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While a lot of the coverage of the invasion is informed by the Kremlin, Novaya Gazeta remained critical of President Vladimir Putin and his supporters, according to CBS News.
In March, the newspaper was forced to suspend printing operations after numerous threats made by Roskomnadzor, Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Communications.
At the time, Muratov said that although it was a ‘difficult’ decision to pull the newspaper temporarily, it was an ‘effort’ to avoid a complete shutdown.
"For us and, I know, for you, this is a terrible and difficult decision. But we need to save us for each other," he said in a statement.
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The newspaper added: "We have received another warning from Roskomnadzor," the newspaper said in a statement, referring to Russia's media regulator.
"We are suspending publication of the newspaper on our website, on social media and in print -- until the end of the 'special operation in Ukraine’”.
Upon receiving the Nobel Prize, Muratov dedicated the award to several journalists who had been murdered since 2000.
One of these journalists included Anna Politkovskaya, who was murdered in a ‘contract style’ killing in her apartment for her reporting on the Kremlin, according to The Guardian.
Charisa Bossinakis