Global Accountability Guardian Award

Established to honor relentless advocates for accountability, this award celebrates the extraordinary bravery of Evgenia and Vladimir Kara-Murza in confronting authoritarian abuses in Russia. Vladimir Kara-Murza is a prominent Russian dissident, historian, and journalist who has been poisoned and jailed for his outspoken criticism of the Kremlin. In 2022, he was unjustly imprisoned and sentenced to 25 years in a penal colony for denouncing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and calling for democratic reform. Fellow Russian human rights activist Evgenia Kara-Murza courageously took up her husband’s cause, advocating powerfully for his release and that of all Russians and Ukrainians wrongfully held by Russia. Her advocacy elevated international awareness and mobilized support from governments and civil society alike that culminated in Vladimir’s 2024 release. Together, the Kara-Murzas embody the pursuit of justice and the global demand for accountability in the face of tyranny.