Former Czech president Václav Havel has welcomed the decision by a German group not to give the Quadriga award to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin following massive criticism in global media and political circles. Havel, who won the award in 2009, had threatened to give it back if Putin received it.
“Václav Havel thinks it was very wise of the panel to reconsider its choice,” his secretary Sabina Tančevová told the AFP news agency. “The award should be given to people like Anna Politkovskaya or Sergei Kovalov or Liu Xiaobo — people who devoted their lives to protection of human rights and freedoms and promoting democracy.”
In withdrawing the award, the Werkstatt Deutschland organization cited the global outrcy over its plans to give Putin the private Quadriga Award that recognizes “role models for enlightenment, dedication and the public good.” No awards will be given in 2011 and the panel said they would “see how it continues next year.”
See related article: Havel to return German award if Putin receives it
