Dinissa Duvanova's (Sergei Duvanov's daughter) Acceptance Speech

This past year has been marked by very troublesome developments in the treatment of journalists and human rights activists in Kazakhstan. Never before did journalists in my country experience so much harassment and persecution. As many other journalists and political activists in Kazakhstan, my father Sergei Duvanov has been harassed, beaten and most recently imprisoned for doing what every journalist must do-writing the truth.

Despite this terrible ordeal, my father has remained faithful to his country, his beliefs and his profession. As his daughter, I am terrified by what he has been through. Yet, as a citizen of my country, I am proud that people like my father have the courage and good will to fight against dictatorship.

I am grateful for the support my father has received from the League and other human rights and journalists' organizations in these trying times. The award, which I am receiving on his behalf, has an extremely important meaning for him. This award shows that the fabricated charges against my father have failed to deceive the international community about the real motives for his arrest: the desire to silence independent voices and eradicate all opposition to the regime. This award has important symbolic meaning to all journalists, human rights activists and the democratic opposition in my country: It shows they are not alone in their fight for freedom.

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