After release from prison: Maria Kalesnikava receives Charlemagne Prize 2022 in person in Aachen

In a special ceremony, Belarusian civil rights activist Maria Kalesnikava will now be personally presented with the Charlemagne Prize she was awarded in absentia in 2022. The International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen and the City of Aachen therefore invite you to a ceremony in her honor on 14 March 2026 at 11.00 a.m. in the Coronation Hall of Aachen City Hall. The Belarusian opposition activist was released from political prison in Belarus in December 2025.

With this ceremony, the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen and the City of Aachen are paying tribute to the extraordinary courage of Maria Kalesnikava, who campaigned for democratic rights, free elections and respect for human dignity in Belarus. Due to her political imprisonment, she was unable to accept the Charlemagne Prize awarded to her in 2022 herself; her sister Tatsiana Khomich accepted the award on her behalf at the time. After more than five years in prison, Maria Kalesnikava was released from prison on 13 December 2025.

The program includes musical contributions and a panel discussion on the topic "Parliamentarians protect parliamentarians" by the German Bundestag. She will be joined in the discussion by former Minister of State Claudia Roth MdB and former State Secretary Thomas Rachel MdB; the panel will be moderated by long-time ZDF heute-journal presenter Claus Kleber.

Important information and interview offer:
The event will be held mainly in German and will be simultaneously interpreted. Admission begins at 10.00 am. The event is open to the public. Registration is possible via https://karlspreis.events/home.