The Secretary General of the Council of Europe noted her resilience and dedication to the cause
On January 21, Kyrgyz human rights activist Aziza Abdirasulova was recognized as the recipient of the Raoul Wallenberg Prize awarded by the Council of Europe.
In an official statement, the Council of Europe emphasized that Abdirasulova "has made tremendous efforts to uncover systematic human rights violations in Central Asia," including the protection of prisoners' rights, freedom of assembly, and the fight against torture, as reported by Radio "Azattyk".
At the ceremony held in Strasbourg, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, highlighted Abdirasulova's courage and persistence, as well as her commitment to protecting fundamental human rights despite existing risks.
"Aziza Abdirasulova, one of the first independent human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan, actively documented cases of torture and arbitrary detention. The Raoul Wallenberg Prize once again highlights human rights defenders against the backdrop of significant geopolitical changes and crises," added Burić.
The Secretary General also emphasized that the human rights activist did not succumb to threats and persecution.
Abdirasulova founded the organization "Kylym Shami," which exposes human rights violations and provides legal assistance to victims, gaining recognition both in Kyrgyzstan and beyond.
Accepting the award, she stated: "Every saved life is priceless to me, just as it was for Raoul Wallenberg... My work in the field of human rights requires not only professional skills but also personal courage. Every time I witnessed torture, I tried to assist the victims as much as possible."
The Wallenberg Prize has been awarded every two years since 2014 at the initiative of the Swedish authorities and the Hungarian parliament. Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who worked in Budapest, used his authority to save tens of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. He went missing after being captured by Soviet troops in 1945.
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