Washington, D.C. — The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) congratulates Ukrainian human rights organization and NED partner Truth Hounds for receiving the 2023 Sakharov Freedom Award. The organization is the first Ukrainian laureate of the prestigious award presented by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.
“The Truth Hounds team has been working tirelessly and courageously for many years to support justice and accountability in Ukraine by documenting war crimes and other atrocities committed by Russia and its proxies,” said Assia Ivantcheva, senior director for Europe at NED. “We are proud to partner with Truth Hounds and other human rights defenders in their struggle to end impunity for gross human rights violations.”
Truth Hounds is a team of dedicated human rights practitioners who work to protect victims of war, document war crimes, and monitor the human rights situation in conflict zones. Since 2014, they have deployed over 150 field missions to Eastern Ukraine and Crimea. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, they have also deployed teams to other Ukrainian cities that have experienced atrocities.
The Sakharov Freedom Award ceremony will be held on May 25 at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway. Learn more about the award here.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY
The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is an independent, nonprofit, grant-making foundation dedicated to the development and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world. With an annual appropriation from Congress, NED funds more than 2,000 grants in 100 countries. NED’s grants program is augmented by the International Forum for Democratic Studies; the World Movement for Democracy; and the Center for International Media Assistance.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Christine Bednarz, Director of Communications; christineb@ned.org; +1-202-200-6872
