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The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, which he consigned to raise money for UNICEF’s Ukrainian relief efforts. It sold at auction in New York on June 20 for the jaw-dropping sum of $103.5 million. The winning bidder wishes to remain anonymous. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

Nobel Peace Prize raises $103.5M for UNICEF Ukraine

Sheila Gibson Stoodley
Sheila Gibson Stoodley
The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, which he consigned to raise money for UNICEF’s Ukrainian relief efforts. It sold at auction in New York on June 20 for the jaw-dropping sum of $103.5 million. The winning bidder wishes to remain anonymous. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, which he consigned to auction to raise money for UNICEF’s Ukrainian relief efforts. It sold in New York on June 20 for the jaw-dropping sum of $103.5 million. The winning bidder wishes to remain anonymous. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

NEW YORK – Heritage Auctions sold the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize medal awarded to independent Russian journalist and Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief, Dmitry Muratov, for $103.5 million on the evening of June 20. The winning bid came from an anonymous buyer at a live global auction event at the Times Center in Manhattan. Proceeds raised from the auction will support UNICEF’s humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine and affected regions. Heritage Auctions donated its efforts to bring worldwide attention to Muratov’s desire to aid those impacted by the war.

“Several months ago, we at Novaya Gazeta asked ourselves what we could do to stop the war and help these civilians get their lives back,” Muratov said June 20. “We decided to sell our Nobel Peace Prize medal through Heritage Auctions, which managed the process very efficiently and waved all their fees and commissions completely. We thank them for this.”

Russian journalist and editor-in-chief of the Novaya Gazeta newspaper Dmitry Muratov poses with his 2021 Nobel Peace Prize before it sold for $103.5 million. All proceeds have been given to UNICEF for its efforts in Ukraine and those affected by the war. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
Russian journalist and editor-in-chief of the Novaya Gazeta newspaper Dmitry Muratov poses with his 2021 Nobel Peace Prize before it sold for $103.5 million. All proceeds have been given to UNICEF for its relief efforts in Ukraine as well as those affected by the war. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

“We were honored to work with Dmitry, eager to facilitate this opportunity with UNICEF, and we’re completely awestruck at the end result,” said Heritage Auctions Chief Strategy Officer Joshua Benesh.

Bidding on the medal opened June 1, which is Children’s Day in Ukraine, and concluded Monday night, June 20, with a live auction and global broadcast at the Times Center in Manhattan on World Refugee Day commemorating the strength, courage and perseverance of refugees.

The medal opened live bidding at $787,500. It quickly reached $1 million, then $2 million, then $3 million. Each time bids reached a round number, the auditorium burst into applause. Bidders on the phone and on HA.com eventually drove the price past $16 million. Then, about 23 minutes after the auction began, one phone bidder moved to the front of the line with a bid of $103.5 million. The room erupted.

The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, which just auctioned for $103.5 million, all of which will fund UNICEF’s relief efforts for Ukraine. In its letter of support for the sale, Norwegian Nobel Institute Director Olav Njolstad said, “This generous act of humanitarianism is very much in the spirit of Alfred Nobel.” Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, which just auctioned for $103.5 million, all of which will fund UNICEF’s relief efforts for Ukraine. In its letter of support for the sale, Norwegian Nobel Institute Director Olav Njolstad said, “This generous act of humanitarianism is very much in the spirit of Alfred Nobel.” Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

The winning bidder wishes to remain anonymous. The funds have already been remitted to UNICEF.

Muratov and the staff of Novaya Gazeta already made a charitable donation of the $500,000 cash award, which was presented to them along with the medal.

The Norwegian Nobel Institute said it enthusiastically supports the sale of Muratov’s medal. In a letter to that effect, Director Olav Njolstad said, “This generous act of humanitarianism is very much in the spirit of Alfred Nobel.”

Muratov announced on March 22 that he intended to auction his medal with all proceeds going to support humanitarian relief efforts for Ukrainian child refugees and their families, no matter where they are, prompted by the sight of “the wounded and children who need urgent treatment.” Shortly after that announcement, which garnered worldwide headlines, he elected to sell the medal through Heritage Auctions with all proceeds intended to benefit UNICEF, subject to due diligence.

Muratov shared the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize with Filipino journalist Maria Ressa. The Norwegian Nobel Committee celebrated their “fight for freedom of expression in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions.”

The front of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded to Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov. On June 20, it sold for $103.5 million, with all proceeds going to UNICEF’s relief efforts in Ukraine and for Ukrainians affected by the war. Heritage Auctions waived all fees and commissions that it would normally collect from the sale. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded to Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov. On June 20, it sold for $103.5 million, with all proceeds going to UNICEF’s relief efforts in Ukraine and for Ukrainians affected by the war. Heritage Auctions waived the fees and commissions it would normally collect from the sale. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

In late March, Muratov was forced to suspend publication of Novaya Gazeta after receiving a second warning from the government agency charged with monitoring Russian news media. Muratov was subsequently attacked when an assailant splashed him with what the Washington Post described as “a mixture of red paint and acetone, leaving his eyes with a chemical burn.”

Muratov was recently named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022.

“UNICEF is honored, excited and deeply grateful to Dmitry Muratov for his extraordinary generosity – and we are astounded by the unprecedented response to the auction,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “This remarkable contribution will help Ukrainian children survive this brutal war and, someday, rebuild their lives. We hope Mr. Muratov’s gift inspires others to support vulnerable children in Ukraine and everywhere. We also want to thank the anonymous bidder, whose winning bid will do so much for so many.”