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Russian Journalist’s Nobel Peace Prize Fetches Record $103.5 Mln at Auction to Aid Ukraine Children

The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize is held by a handler before the start of an auction benefiting Ukrainian children, at The Times Center in New York, New York, US, 20 June 2022. (EPA)
The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize is held by a handler before the start of an auction benefiting Ukrainian children, at The Times Center in New York, New York, US, 20 June 2022. (EPA)
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Russian Journalist’s Nobel Peace Prize Fetches Record $103.5 Mln at Auction to Aid Ukraine Children

The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize is held by a handler before the start of an auction benefiting Ukrainian children, at The Times Center in New York, New York, US, 20 June 2022. (EPA)
The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize is held by a handler before the start of an auction benefiting Ukrainian children, at The Times Center in New York, New York, US, 20 June 2022. (EPA)

Dmitry Muratov, the co-winner of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize and the editor of one of Russia's last major independent newspapers, auctioned off his Nobel medal for a record $103.5 million to aid children displaced by the war in Ukraine.

All proceeds from the auction, which coincided with the World Refugee Day on Monday, will benefit UNICEF's humanitarian response for Ukraine's displaced children, Heritage Auctions, which conducted the sale in New York, said in a statement.

Muratov's Novaya Gazeta newspaper, fiercely critical of President Vladimir Putin and his government, suspended operations in Russia in March after warnings from the state over its coverage of the war in Ukraine.

Pressure against liberal Russian media outlets has been continuous under Putin, Russia's paramount leader since 1999, but it has mounted after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24. Muratov was attacked with red paint in April.]

Russia's mainstream media and state-controlled organizations follow closely the language used by the Kremlin to describe the conflict with Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special operation" to ensure Russian security and denazify its neighbor. Kyiv and its Western allies say it is an unprovoked war of aggression.

According to US media reports, the auction of Muratov's prize shattered the record for any Nobel medal that has been auctioned off, with reports saying that the previous highest sale fetched just under $5 million.

"This award is unlike any other auction offering to present," Heritage Auctions said in a statement before the sale.

"Mr. Muratov, with the full support of his staff at Novaya Gazeta, is allowing us to auction his medal not as a collectible but as an event that he hopes will positively impact the lives of millions of Ukrainian refugees."

Muratov, who co-founded Novaya Gazeta in 1991, won the 2021 the Nobel Peace Prize with Maria Ressa of the Philippines for what the Nobel Prize committee said were "their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace".

Muratov, who pledged to donate about $500,000 of that prize money to charities, dedicated his Nobel to the six Novaya Gazeta journalists who have been murdered since 2000.

That list included the journalist Anna Politkovskaya, a critic of Russia's war in Chechnya, who was killed in 2006 in the elevator of her Moscow apartment building.

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Saudi Hospitality: From Tradition to Serving Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims

Founded by a group of dedicated volunteers and experts, the Association for Pilgrims and Umrah Services focuses on ensuring the safety and comfort of pilgrims at the start of their journey. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Founded by a group of dedicated volunteers and experts, the Association for Pilgrims and Umrah Services focuses on ensuring the safety and comfort of pilgrims at the start of their journey. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Hospitality: From Tradition to Serving Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims

Founded by a group of dedicated volunteers and experts, the Association for Pilgrims and Umrah Services focuses on ensuring the safety and comfort of pilgrims at the start of their journey. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Founded by a group of dedicated volunteers and experts, the Association for Pilgrims and Umrah Services focuses on ensuring the safety and comfort of pilgrims at the start of their journey. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Arabs have a long-standing tradition of hospitality, treating guests with the utmost respect.

This value remains strong in Saudi Arabia, where generosity extends beyond family gatherings and friend visits to include the Hajj pilgrims and Umrah performers. For them, the Kingdom becomes a second home, with open doors and hearts.

In northern Saudi Arabia, near border crossings that welcome travelers from neighboring countries, the Association for Pilgrims and Umrah Services plays a key role.

Founded by a group of dedicated volunteers and experts, the association focuses on ensuring the safety and comfort of pilgrims at the start of their journey.

The association operates at key border points like Jadeedah Arar and Al-Hadithah, the main entry points for pilgrims coming by land from countries such as Iraq, Jordan, Palestine and Syria.

Close by, the association has set up a fully equipped city for pilgrims, offering a field hospital, relaxation areas, food services and guidance to make their spiritual journey easier.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Badr Al-Shammari, the chairman of the board of directors of the Association for Pilgrims and Umrah Services in Al-Jawf region, told Asharq Al-Awsat: “We are the first point of contact for pilgrims arriving from the north. Our goal is to provide an exceptional experience, ensuring pilgrims feel safe and comfortable, with all the medical and food services they need.”

The association goes beyond basic services, launching innovative projects to tackle challenges. One key initiative is the mobile workshop for fixing broken buses on the route between border crossings and Madinah. The team is always ready to respond quickly, reducing delays and easing the journey for pilgrims.

From the moment pilgrims arrive at the association's site, the team works with local government agencies to provide continuous care and services around the clock.

If pilgrims face health issues, they are immediately examined at the field hospital. For more serious conditions, they are transferred to nearby public hospitals.

One touching story that highlights the association’s humanitarian work involved an elderly pilgrim who fell ill and was taken to a health center by the association's team.

After receiving initial treatment at the field hospital, he was transferred to a public hospital. Once he recovered, he asked how to pay for the medical services he had received. He was surprised to learn that all services were free, as directed by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

Moved, the pilgrim told the team: “I never expected such care and services. Everything was organized, and the staff truly cared about my comfort. I pray that God protects this country and its people.”

At a Hajj and Umrah Conference in Jeddah, Al-Shammari explained that the association’s mission goes beyond providing daily services.

“Our work is a noble mission aimed at fully supporting the guests and helping them perform their rituals easily and comfortably. This is a great honor,” he stressed.