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On 1 July at the ongoing sixth Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies in Vilnius, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis presented the Geremek Award to representatives of Belarusian opposition.The representatives of Belarusian opposition who attended the event received the award. "The Geremek Award is presented to representatives of Belarusian democratic opposition for their faith in democratic values ​​and for many years of work, aiming to build a free civil society, ensure respect for human rights and their wish to live in a democratic country," the head of the Lithuanian diplomacy said during the award ceremony.

The Geremek Award is presented for achievements in strengthening democracy and with an aim to draw attention to the efforts of pro-democracy activists, who carry out their duties under very difficult conditions.

Poland's former Foreign Minister Bronisław Geremek was one of the founders of the Community of Democracies, which was established at an international conference of Foreign Ministers in 2000, in Warsaw. After the tragic death of B.Geremek in 2008, a decision was taken to perpetuate his contributions to democracy and to establish the award to persons, who disseminate democratic ideas and culture, promote education and the principles of publicity. The Bronislaw Geremek Foundation was inaugurated on June 5, 2009.