Bishkek, Dec. 22, 2025. /Kabar/. The leaders of three Central Asian countries, who received the Leo Tolstoy Peace Prize – President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan, Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan deserve to set an example for others. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed this confidence in his welcoming remarks at the awards ceremony.
The leaders received the prize for resolving border issues that have strained relations between these countries since the 1990s.
"We certainly have a good reason to congratulate [the laureates] on their award," Putin addressed them. "We will follow your example."
Russian leader wished the laureates "further success in their noble mission of serving peace and mutual understanding" and "stability and prosperity" to the friendly peoples of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.