Russia

In 1986, the Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize was awarded to Soviet physicist and dissident Yuri Orlov.

Waging Peace

The Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize was awarded in 1986 to Soviet physicist and dissident Yuri Orlov. Mr. Orlov's human rights activism led to his seven-year imprisonment and exile before he was allowed to immigrate to the United States in 1986. President Carter said at the presentation, "We are delighted to have him here ... a wonderful hero who exemplifies those hundreds of people still imprisoned in the Soviet Union because of their outspoken condemnation of human rights abuses."

President Carter and the late Dominique de Menil established the $100,000 prize to promote the protection of human rights. It has been regularly awarded to individuals or organizations for their outstanding efforts on behalf of human rights, often at great personal sacrifice. The award enabled human rights activists to continue their work and focused global attention on their struggles for justice.

Read more about the Carter Center's human rights initiatives >