Ukrainian Soldier and Musician Declines Award Over Nomination Alongside Russian Yulia Navalnaya

Andrii Khlyvniuk, the frontman of the Ukrainian band BoomBox and an active serviceman of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, declined the prestigious Sergei Magnitsky Award, Khlyvniuk wrote on Facebook on November 18, thanking the award’s founders and jury in London.

“As a father of two children living under missile attacks and a private in the Ukrainian Armed Forces (Kherson Patrol Police UAV Strike Force), I cannot receive this award along with other laureates who are 'not sure' about the need to provide my country with Western weapons that are vital to repel Russian aggression,” he said, explaining his decision to decline the award.

His statement was seen as a pointed reference to Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

“You noticed and recognized my relatively modest contribution, compared to other people and organizations, to the fight for freedom of speech and fundamental human rights within the struggle for Ukraine’s independence. Thank you!” Khlyvniuk wrote.

Andrii Khlyvniuk joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2022 and since then has been fighting for Ukraine, operating a drone, you can see him and his unit in combat in our report.

The Sergei Magnitsky Award was established in 2015 to honor the memory of Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer and auditor for Hermitage Capital. Magnitsky was arrested in Russia on charges of tax evasion and later died in the Matrosskaya Tishina detention center.

The award recognizes achievements in nine categories, including investigative journalism and human rights advocacy.