Vytautas Magnus University (VDU) in Kaunas, Lithuania’s second largest city, has granted Nobel Literature Prize winner Svetlana Alexievich an honorary doctorate degree, the university said on Thursday.
"Our university is glad and proud that respected honorary writer Svetlana Alexievich accepts doctorate regalia from the VDU and plans to come to Lithuania to meet with the community, once circumstances allow," VDU Rector Juozas Augutis said in a statement.
Alexievich is a Belarusian author, journalist. and screenwriter who won the Nobel Literature prize in 2015. Her most notable works include The Unwomanly Face of War, Zinky Boys: Soviet Voices from a Forgotten War, and Voices from Chernobyl.
VDU said she was granted the honorary title for docufiction bibliography, and her work in furthering democracy and strengthening human rights.
Alexievich was also commended for her work in preserving people's historic and multi-vocal memory and her significant efforts to protect the values of freedom and justice, according to the university.
Following the rigged August 9 presidential election in Belarus, Aleksevich became part of the Opposition Council.
The council was established by Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the challenger to Alexander Lukashenko in the election, with the aim to facilitate the transfer of power and organise new elections.
Read more: Lithuanian, EU diplomats arrive to protect Belarus’ Nobel laureate Alexievich from detention
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
