The Secretary General of the Council of Europe noted her courage and determination
On January 21, Aziza Abdirasulova, a well-known human rights activist from Kyrgyzstan, was awarded the Raoul Wallenberg Prize, presented by the Council of Europe.
In an official statement, the Council of Europe emphasized that Abdirasulova "has made an exceptional contribution to uncovering systematic human rights violations in Central Asia," actively defending the rights of prisoners, freedom of assembly, and fighting against torture, as reported by Radio "Azattyk."
At the solemn ceremony in Strasbourg, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, highlighted Abdirasulova's courage and persistence, as well as her dedication to protecting fundamental human rights despite the risks.
"Aziza Abdirasulova is one of the first independent human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan, and she has consistently documented cases of torture and arbitrary detention. In the context of significant geopolitical changes, the Raoul Wallenberg Prize once again draws attention to human rights defenders," added Burić.
She also noted that the human rights activist did not succumb to threats and persecution.
Abdirasulova is the founder of the organization "Kylim Shami," which exposes human rights violations, provides legal assistance to victims, and has gained recognition both in the country and abroad.
Accepting the award, Abdirasulova stated: "Just like for Raoul Wallenberg, every saved life is immensely valuable to me... My work in the field of human rights requires not only professionalism but also personal courage. Every time I witnessed torture, I tried to help the victims to the best of my ability."
The Wallenberg Prize has been awarded every two years since 2014 at the initiative of the Swedish authorities and the Hungarian parliament. The Swedish diplomat Wallenberg, who worked in Budapest, used his powers to save tens of thousands of Jews from the Holocaust during World War II and disappeared in 1945 after being captured by Soviet troops.
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