Tolstoy Peace Prize divides his family: Debate over pacifist legacy

A new peace prize in Russia bearing the name of Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy has divided the author's descendants.

The recipient of the 1st International Leo Tolstoy Peace Prize was announced at the Russian State Academic Bolshoi Theatre on September 9, the birthday of the great Russian author. 

The award was given to Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission. Mahamat, a former Prime Minister of Chad, received the award from Bolshoi Theatre Director Valery Gergiev. 

The prize, which bears the name of Tolstoy—who gifted world literature classic novels such as War and Peace and Anna Karenina—was announced on June 22, 2022, by the Russian Historical Society, the Russian Peace Foundation, and the Russian Military Historical Society.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had stated that the award would be given to those who contribute to the "formation of a new, fair, multipolar world order." 

'TOLSTOY WOULD TURN IN HIS GRAVE IF HE HEARD THIS'

The organization of the award ceremony and this move have sparked debate among Tolstoy's descendants. 

Stephan Tolstoy, the great-great-grandson of the Russian author, told the French news agency AFP, "Tolstoy would turn in his grave if he heard this." 

The 83-year-old Swedish citizen, Stephan Tolstoy, stated that the Russian author was a pacifist who opposed all forms of state governance and war, and that he did not find it right for Russia, which is invading Ukraine, to present such an award, adding: 

"It is a peace prize. And I think associating it with the name of Leo Tolstoy is perfect. There is nothing wrong with that. The problem is that this prize was initiated by a country that is at war and is invading another country. This makes the situation more complicated and disturbing."

Vladimir Tolstoy, the author's great-great-grandson, serves on the award's board of directors. In an interview with Russia's state-owned Channel One (Perviy Kanal) in June, Vladimir Tolstoy had said that Tolstoy was "always in favor of a fair world." Vladimir Tolstoy, who also served as a cultural advisor to Putin for a time, continued his remarks as follows: 

"Tolstoy's descendants live all over the world and have supported this initiative."

Stephan Tolstoy, however, argued that this was not true, saying: 

"It is said that members of the Tolstoy family were contacted in advance regarding the award. We were definitely not asked anything."