Shavkat Mirziyoyev among nominees for prestigious peace prize

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, along with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, has been nominated for the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize, according to a report by TASS.

The nomination was initiated by the Russian Peace Foundation in recognition of the leaders' contributions to maintaining regional security based on the primacy of international law, promoting a multipolar world order, and strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation among nations.

Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs and head of the foundation, formally submitted the nomination to the award committee. In his letter, he highlighted the landmark agreement signed on March 31, 2025, during a summit in Khujand, which finalized the demarcation of borders between Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The agreement, he noted, is a significant step toward ensuring regional stability and development.

Slutsky also emphasized that thanks to the efforts of the three Central Asian leaders, security across Eurasia is being reinforced. He noted ongoing discussions among Central Asian countries regarding the creation of a visa-free zone and boosting regional tourism potential.

The Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize is awarded for efforts to eliminate the threat of war, ensure equitable global security rooted in international law, halt the arms race, and promote a multipolar, non-violent world that upholds human rights and freedoms.

In 2024, the award was presented to the African Union for the first time. It was accepted by Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission.

The award committee includes representatives from permanent members of the UN Security Council, as well as prominent public figures from BRICS, SCO, and G20 nations. Notable members include French public figure Pierre de Gaulle; Wenfei Liu, Vice President of the Chinese Association for the Study of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia; and Lindiwe Sisulu, Member of South Africa's National Assembly and the African National Congress’s National Executive Committee.

It should be recalled that earlier, during the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, President Mirziyoyev was awarded Turkmenistan’s Order “For Contribution to the Development of Cooperation.”