International Lenin Prizes for Strengthening Peace Among Nations

honorary awards conferred upon citizens of any country for outstanding service in the struggle for peace regardless of their political views, party affiliations, religious convictions, or racial differences. Instituted by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of Dec. 20, 1949, as the International Stalin Prizes for Strengthening Peace Among Nations, the prizes were renamed the International Lenin Prizes for Strengthening Peace Among Nations by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of Sept. 6, 1956. They are awarded by the Committee for International Lenin Prizes for Strengthening Peace Among Nations formed by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. The committee consists of a chairman (since 1950, Academician D. V. Skobel’tsyn) and 14 members, both Soviet public figures and representatives of democratic forces in other countries who have worked actively for the cause of peace among nations. Candidates for the prizes may be nominated by international and national democratic organizations (trade unions, cooperatives, and women’s and youth organizations), by scientific and educational institutions, by associations of scientists, cultural figures, and artists, and by members of the Committee for International Lenin Prizes.

In accordance with a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issued Mar. 8, 1961, the Committee for International Lenin Prizes may award up to five prizes annually. Recipients of the award are given the diploma of laureate of the International Lenin Prize, a gold medal depicting V. I. Lenin, and a monetary prize of 25,000 rubles. The committee’s decisions concerning the awarding of the prizes for the previous year are made public on May 1.