Knight of Freedom Award
Awarded forthe promotion of freedom, justice and democracy
CountryPoland
Presented byCasimir Pulaski Foundation
First awarded2005
Websitepulaski.pl/en/knight-of-freedom-award/

The Knight of Freedom Award (Polish: Rycerz Wolności) is a Polish international award conferred annually to "outstanding figures, who promote the values represented by General Casimir Pulaski: freedom, justice, and democracy".

History

The award was established in 2005 and is presented by the Casimir Pulaski Foundation, which is an independent, non-profit think tank specializing in foreign policy and international security. The award committee chaired by Zbigniew Pisarski,[1] the President of the Casimir Pulaski Foundation, presents the laureates with handmade replicas of the sabre (Polish: karabela) used by General Pulaski. The award ceremony takes place each year during the Warsaw Security Forum and the award is considered to be one of the most important Polish foreign policy and human rights awards.[2][3]

Laureates

Year Laureate(s) Image Citizenship(s) Citation(s) Source(s)
2023 NATO NATO International to the most successful military alliance in world history that nobody has dared to attack. [4]
2022 Olena Zelenska Olena Zelenska Ukraine to over forty million individuals, who bravely defend their country, values and freedom in the face of cruel war. [5]
2021 Alexei Navalny Alexei Navalny Russia for his extraordinary efforts to promote democratic values in Russia, long-standing dedication in bringing values such as freedom, justice, respect to the law, and accountability to the Russian state system. [6]
2020 Thorbjørn Jagland Thorbjørn Jagland Norway for his continuous commitment to the European integration project, active engagement in fostering international dialogue and a tireless effort to promote democracy, rule of law and human rights in Europe and beyond. [7]
2019 Dalia Grybauskaitė Dalia Grybauskaitė Lithuania for her considerable efforts undertaken in the fight for the security and defense of Lithuania, the Baltic states and Poland as well as for her hard stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine [8]
2018 Anders Fogh Rasmussen Anders Fogh Rasmussen Denmark for his activities related to enhancing European integration and promoting European values [9]
2017 Mary Robinson Mary Robinson Ireland for her uncompromising fight for human rights and universal values [10]
2016 Toomas Ilves Toomas Ilves Estonia for his activity to promote democratic and pro-European values in the country and all over the world [11][12]
Mikhail Khodorkovsky Mikhail Khodorkovsky Russia for the uncompromising efforts to build the rule of law, civil society and the promotion of European values in Russian society [13][14]
2015 Carl Bildt Carl Bildt Sweden for his contribution to the EU's Eastern Partnership initiative, whose goal is to bring pro-European values to the partner countries and help in carrying out reforms [15]
Radosław Sikorski Radosław Sikorski Poland for initiating the process of creating the concept of the Eastern Partnership in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy of the EU, the aim of which is to bring pro-European values and help in carrying out reforms in the partner states [16]
2014 Mikheil Saakashvili Mikheil Saakashvili Georgia for strengthening the democracy, rule of law, and development of civil society in Georgia [17]
2013 Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga Latvia for the promotion of democratic values throughout the world, fighting for equality of women, as well as efforts for social justice [18]
2012 Richard Lugar Richard Lugar United States for his actions and support of the Polish accession process to NATO structures [19]
2011 Bernard Kouchner Bernard Kouchner France for his contribution in promoting humanitarian values through the organization "Doctors Without Borders" and input in the promotion of the freedom, justice and democracy worldwide [20]
2010 Javier Solana Javier Solana Spain for his commitment to a peaceful solution of the political conflict related to the presidential elections in Ukraine in 2004 [21]
2009 Valdas Adamkus Valdas Adamkus Lithuania for his contribution to conduct re-elections in Ukraine, as well as for his involvement in the Orange Revolution [22]
Aleksander Kwaśniewski Aleksander Kwaśniewski Poland for his merits in favour of a peaceful end to the Orange Revolution [23][24]
2008 Lech Wałęsa Lech Wałęsa Poland for his contribution to the democratic transition of Poland [25]
2007 Alaksandar Milinkievič Alaksandar Milinkievič Belarus for his work and commitment to democratic elections in Belarus, as well as for his contribution to the promotion of the freedom, justice and democracy worldwide [26]
2006 Władysław Bartoszewski Władysław Bartoszewski Poland for his involvement in opposition activities, in particular, the "Solidarity" movement, as well as his contribution to the improvement of Polish-German relations [27]
2005 Norman Davies Norman Davies United Kingdom for his involvement in promoting Poland throughout his books, which are well-known and recognized worldwide [28]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Author's bio". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  2. ↑ "Knight of Freedom Award". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  3. ↑ "About CPF". Retrieved 2018-01-07.
  4. ↑ "NATO gets award from Polish think tank". polskieradio.pl. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Ukraine's First Lady accepts 'Knight of Freedom Award' on behalf of her people". Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  6. ↑ "Alexey Navalny – 2021 Knight of Freedom awardee". Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  7. ↑ "Thorbjørn Jagland". Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  8. ↑ "Prezydent Dalia Grybauskaitė wyróżniona nagrodą Rycerz Wolności". Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  9. ↑ "Anders Fogh Rasmussen". Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  10. ↑ "Mary Robinson – "Knight of Freedom" of the Casimir Pulaski Foundation". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  11. ↑ "Toomas Hendrik Ilves the "Knight of Freedom" of the Casimir Pulaski Foundation". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  12. ↑ "Polish think tank gives Ilves Knight of Freedom award". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  13. ↑ "Khodorkovsky given 'Knight of Freedom' award". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  14. ↑ "Knight Of Freedom Award 2016". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  15. ↑ "Graduation & Inauguration ceremonies of the Academy of Young Diplomats". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  16. ↑ "Graduation & Inauguration ceremonies of the Academy of Young Diplomats". diplomats.pl. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  17. ↑ "Mikheil Saakashvili granted award of Freedom Knight". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  18. ↑ "Talking Policy: Vaira Vike-Freiberga on Latvia". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  19. ↑ "Press Releases Archive". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  20. ↑ "Bernard Kouchner". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  21. ↑ "Javier Solana". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  22. ↑ "Valdas Adamkus". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  23. ↑ "Aleksander Kwaśniewski". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  24. ↑ "Kwaśniewski dostał nagrodę Rycerz Wolności". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  25. ↑ "Lech Wałęsa". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  26. ↑ "Aleksandr Milinkiewicz". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  27. ↑ "Władysław Bartoszewski". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  28. ↑ "Awards". Retrieved 2018-01-06.
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