Helsinki Speech Nominated for the European Press Prize

Sergei Lebedev at the Helsinki Debate on Europe

Writer Sergei Lebedev, one of the sharpest critics of the Russian regime, has been nominated for the European Press Prize for his speech at the 2025 Helsinki Debate on Europe. 

Lebedev’s piece is on the short list in the category The Public Discourse Award – “for a remarkable textual interpretation of the world we live in” – and the winners will be announced at the Award Ceremony on 3 June 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal.

In the essay based on his Helsinki closing speech, Lebedev describes how the USSR after WW II occupied eastern Europe, calling it “liberation”. Today, Russia is repeating the crime in Ukraine. The full article was published in several languages (including English and German) by Voxeurop, and appeared in numerous international newspapers and magazines, including The Guardian, Blätter für deutsche und internationale Politik and Denník N.

At the Helsinki Debate, Lebedev also took part in a panel discussion with Rosa Liksom, moderated by Stefan Ingvarsson.

Read and review all texts and talks at the Helsinki Debate here!

Photo: Karl Viljhálmsson © Debates on Europe

“How the Helsinki Final Act Changed My Life”