Three Ukrainian activists – Hanna Hopko, Serhii Leshchenko, and Oleksandr Solontai – have received this year’s Democracy Award from the US National Democratic Institute (NDI). “These honorees represent a new generation of Ukrainian leaders,” said former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, NDI’s chairperson. “Their commitment and dedication to Ukraine’s democratic future can serve as an inspiration to those who struggle around the world to build democracy in their own countries.” US Vice President Joe Biden also came to honor the Ukrainian activists.
The Day managed to contact Oleksandr SOLONTAI, political analyst at the Institute of Political Education, by telephone and congratulate him on being awarded.
“The name of this award sounds very big,” Oleksandr says. “It is not a cash prize but a symbol of recognition. For me, it is an advance award. I will have to work hard to deserve the right to be called a new Ukrainian democrat and be on the global list of the democratic politicians who have achieved as much as, for example, Vaclav Havel. For me, it is not just an advance but a guide, especially when I read the names of this prize’s recipients. It is, for example, Joe Biden who spoke at the award dinner. The ceremony was solemn. The hall was filled to capacity – almost a thousand people. This was so far the highest level in my life.”
What did you speak about with Ms. Albright and Mr. Biden?
“We had enough of time. We emphasized that there is a real war going on between Ukraine and Russia. We told them that there is an internal and an external front. We can hardly do much on the latter without their support. We noted that a few serious US steps to impose sanctions could have a more profound effect on Russia than Ukrainian battalions.
“Albright knows very much about the Ukrainian situation. Finishing her speech, she said: Ukraine was, is, and will always be there. It is difficult to find in America a more devoted friend of Ukraine than Madeleine Albright.”
