Lida Yusupova
(1961-)

Chechnyan Human Rights Activist
2004 Martin Ennals Human Rights Award Winner
2005 Rafto Prize for Human Rights

birthdate: September 15
birthplace: Grozny, Chechnya

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Lida Yusupova is a Chechnyan lawyer and human rights activist who works with the Chechnyan human rights group Memorial to bring lawsuits against the Russian government for serious international human rights and humanitarian law violations. Lida Yusupova lost a number of her family, friends and neighbors in the first Chechnyan war. When the second Chechnyan war broke out in 2000, she decided to dedicate her life to working for human rights in her country by holding those who perpetrate human rights violations accountable, and by bringing the situation to the international community's attention. Amnesty International and the BBC have called her one of the most courageous women in Europe for her dedication to human rights in Chechnya, despite the threats to her own life. In 2004 she received the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, and in 2005 the Thorolf Rafto Foundation for Human Rights' 2005 Rafto Prize. She and her organization have also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.