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 has 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 December 13, 2025.

In addition to musical contributions, the program includes a panel discussion on the topic "Parliamentarians protect parliamentarians" of 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 discussion will be moderated by long-time ZDF heute-journal presenter Claus Kleber.

"A great sign of solidarity"
The fact that we are now able to welcome Maria Kalesnikava to Aachen is a strong signal to all those who stand up for freedom and democracy in Europe," said Armin Laschet, Chairman of the Charlemagne Prize Board of Directors.

Maria Kalesnikava was deeply moved by the personal award presentation: "It is a huge honor for me to receive such an award. I found out about the award a little later, when I was in prison, and for me it was and is a great sign of solidarity with all Belarusians."

"The personal tribute to Maria Kalesnikava also has a special European and historical dimension for the city of Aachen: "Aachen sees itself as a cosmopolitan city with a pulsating heartbeat. Maria Kalesnikava's voice reminds us that freedom, integrity and human rights cannot be taken for granted," explains Lord Mayor Dr. Michael Ziemons.

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.

About the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen
The International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen is considered one of the most important European prizes. It has been awarded since 1950 to individuals and institutions that have rendered outstanding services to the unification of Europe. Last year, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, received the Charlemagne Prize. Mario Draghi is the sixth Italian winner of the Charlemagne Prize in its 76-year history.

Since 2025, the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen has awarded an annual project prize money of one million euros to charitable pro-European initiatives. The funding - made possible by the charitable foundation of the Aachen citizens and entrepreneurs Dr. Eckhard Schulz and Dr. rer. nat. Stefanie Schäfer-Schulz - is awarded on the recommendation of the respective Charlemagne Prize winners. The aim is to strengthen pro-European commitment, emphasize common values and make the European idea visible beyond Aachen by effectively supporting new and existing projects throughout Europe.