Welcome: Mike Schubert, Lord Mayor of the State Capital Potsdam
Laudatio: Christian Lindner, Party leader of the Free Democratic Party (FDP)
Acceptance Speech: Leonid Volkov, Politician, Chief-of-Staff and Political Director of Alexei Navalny’s team
This year’s M100 Media Award is presented to the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny and his foundation FBK (Anti-Corruption Foundation).
The award for Navalny, who has been in prison since January, will be accepted by his closest associate and confidant Leonid Volkov.
The laudation will be delivered by Christian Lindner, the Federal Chairman of the FDP, who has been campaigning for Navalny’s release for months.
In presenting the award to Alexei Navalny, the M100 advisory board, chaired by Potsdam’s Lord Mayor Mike Schubert, is sending a clear signal about the importance of defending European values through an independent opposition and civil society, fair judicial procedures and the right to exercise basic human rights. The award also serves as a symbol for the almost 400 political prisoners in Russia, as well as murdered politicians and journalists and for the fight against increasing autocracy in Europe.
Alexei Navalny is the leader of the Russian opposition and founder of the Anti-Corruption Foundation FBK. He became known for his anti-corruption investigations against state-owned companies and high-ranking government officials. He came second in the Moscow mayoral elections of 2013. In 2018, he campaigned, but was not allowed, to appear on the ballot for the Russian presidential election. On 20 August 2020, he was poisoned with the military-grade nerve agent Novichok before or on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow. At the behest of his family and prominent supporters, he was transferred to Berlin’s Charité hospital, where he remained in a coma for a month. He survived and, after a period of rehabilitation, returned to Russia on 17 January 2021, where he was immediately arrested. He was accused of having violated parole conditions from a previous criminal case due to his hospital stay in Germany and sentenced to two and a half years in a penal camp.
Statements on the award rationale of the M100 Advisory Board
Stephan-Andreas Casdorff, Publisher, Der Tagesspiegel
Alexei Navalny, this year’s award winner – who else? After all, everything is on the line: defending freedom of expression, democratic values in general, which include an independent opposition, fair judicial procedures and the right to exercise basic human rights. Yes indeed, and Alexei Navalny, because he has become a symbol: for almost 400 political prisoners in Russia, for murdered politicians and journalists and for the struggle against increasing autocracy in Europe.
Kai Diekmann, Founder and Shareholder, Deutsche Fondsgesellschaft (DFG) and Storymachine
By conferring the M100 Media Award on Alexei Navalny, we are appealing to the EU and the democratic world not to forget him – as well as all the other imprisoned democratic opposition leaders worldwide – and not to abandon them. Russia is both a member of the Council of Europe and a co-signatory of the European Convention on Human Rights. Not insisting on compliance with this obligation and thus on Navalny’s release would be a fatal sign and further weaken democracy.
Astrid Frohloff, TV Presenter and Journalist, rbb TV
Alexei Navalny deserves the highest recognition for his courage and persistence in repeatedly denouncing corruption and abuse of power by the elites in Russia. Despite severe harassment by the regime, he has not allowed himself to be intimidated. His commitment to human rights and freedom of expression at the cost of personal suffering is incredibly admirable. Distinguishing Alexej Navalny with this award is also a sign for the almost 400 political prisoners, murdered politicians and journalists in Russia.
Christoph Lanz, Head of Board, Thomson Media, Germany/UK
Alexei Navalny is doing all he can and risking his life for a democratic future for Russia. For this he deserves our utmost respect and all the support we can give him. Honouring him with this year’s M100 Media Award is an expression of solidarity with this man who has dedicated his life to the fight against corruption and for democracy in Russia.
Leonard Novy, Director, Institute for Media and Communication Policy (IfM)
Human rights, the rule of law and media freedom are inextricably linked. In this respect, this year’s M100 Media Award is a sign of our appreciation for Alexei Navalny’s struggle – and a sign of our solidarity with all opposition leaders, activists and journalists who, like Alexei Navalny are risking their lives to fight for a pluralistic, democratic Russia.
Christian Rainer, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Profil, Austria
For the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the world seems to be at a crossroads between the powers of democracy and autocracy, with Russia, China and many others on one side and Europe as well as the US on the other. ALEXEJ NAVALNY is standing up to the despots and the cynics with selfless and even self-destructive strength. He is fighting for values that over hundreds of years we have wrested from the millennia-old system. May he reach his goals unscathed!
Sabine Schicketanz, Editor-in-Chief, Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten
Showing great personal courage and putting his life on the line, Alexei Navalny denounces the corruption of the elites as well as the arbitrary approach of courts and authorities. Refusing to be intimidated, he defends seriously threatened and restricted democratic values in his homeland – freedom of expression, protection of civil and human rights, acceptance of a political opposition and the rule of law. The award for Navalny, who remains imprisoned despite all the protests from Western politicians and governments, appeals for his release and the now banned network of his comrades-in-arms (the FBK Foundation), is also meant as a sign of support for the opposition and civil society in Russia.
