Mirziyoyev named laureate of the International Peace Prize

The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has been named a laureate of the second International Peace Prize, named after Leo Tolstoy, the TASS reported.

Alongside Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov and Tajikistan’s leader Emomali Rahmon were also announced as laureates of the award. The decision was made following a vote. The award ceremony took place in Moscow yesterday, September 9, coinciding with the birth anniversary of the great writer and philosopher Leo Tolstoy.

’’According to the decision of the jury of the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize, the laureates for 2025 are Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The decision was adopted unanimously’’, said Valery Gergiev, chairman of the jury, artistic director, and general director of the Mariinsky theatre.

According to the award’s organizing committee, the three state leaders were honored for their significant contributions to strengthening peace and security in Central Asia. The committee noted that on March 31, the presidents of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan signed an agreement on the tripoint of their state borders. This formalized their shared borders legally and helped ensure joint and balanced security under international law while promoting cooperation among their peoples.

The international jury, chaired by Valery Gergiev, included prominent political and public figures from Argentina, Belarus, India, China, Russia, France, South Africa, and Japan.

The second International Peace Prize, named after Leo Tolstoy, is a relatively new award, established on June 22, 2022. It was created jointly by the Russian Historical Society, the Russian Military-Historical Society, and the Russian Peace Foundation. The prize aims to prevent wars, promote a stable and multipolar world, advance non-violent peace, and encourage active peacebuilding initiatives.

Each year, this prize is awarded to heads of state, international organizations, or public figures who have made a significant contribution to strengthening peace and security. For example, in 2024, the inaugural prize was given to a continental African organization, the African Union. In 2025, it was awarded to the leaders of the Central Asian countries, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Winners are announced every year on September 9, the birthday of the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy.

The prize bears Tolstoy’s name for a reason. His works consistently promoted the ideals of peace and humanism. For instance, in his novel War and Peace, Tolstoy vividly depicts the tragedies of war and the suffering of individuals, emphasizing the value of a peaceful life.

It is worth noting that on March 31 of this year, Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov, and Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed an agreement on the tripoint of their state borders during a meeting in Khujand. This border junction is located in the Fergana valley, connecting Sughd (Tajikistan), Fergana (Uzbekistan), and Batken (Kyrgyzstan) regions. The agreement was later ratified by Sadyr Japarov.