In March 2022, Sasha Skochilenko, a young musician and artist from St. Petersburg, left five paper price tags with anti-war texts at a supermarket near her friend's house. She had no idea what a flywheel of repression this tiny act of defiance would set in motion. Two weeks later, the police raided Sasha and sent her to a pre-trial detention center. A team of investigators, judges, prosecutors, and experts proved for two years in seventeen volumes of the case that the five pieces of paper were a serious threat to national security and a manifestation of hatred and hostility toward the Russian army. “The case of the five price tags” became a symbol of absurdly brutal repression of the Russian authorities against those who disagree with the war in Ukraine. And Sasha herself unexpectedly turned out to be one of the most famous Russian political prisoners and a heroine of the pacifist movement, recognized all over the world. Sasha tells about everything that happened to her in her diaries, which she kept from the first to the last days of her imprisonment.
What Are the Objectives of the Award?
The primary goal of the Award is to support authors and promote Russian-language literature worldwide. We welcome all who write and read in Russian, regardless of citizenship or place of residence. We aim to foster a Russian-language culture free from political and imperial influences.
How Is the Award Process Conducted?
The Prize is awarded annually. The Jury holds a vote in which each member selects between one and three works. The author whose work receives the highest number of votes becomes the winner.
What Awards Are Provided?
The Prize winner receives a grant for the translation of their work into English, French, and German.
When Does the Submission Period for the Competition Start and End?
Submissions for the third season of the prize will open on July 15, 2026, and close on October 15, 2026.
When will the list of finalists and winners be announced?
On January 20, 2027, the Council of Experts will announce the shortlist. The Independent Jury will announce the winner on May 25, 2027.
What are the conditions for the nomination of a book for the award
Works published in 2025 are eligible for the third season of the competition. Eligible works (novels, novellas, short story and essay collections, documentary prose) may have been published either as standalone editions or in literary magazines. Nominations may be submitted by publishing houses and magazine editorial boards, as well as by the authors themselves or third parties (with the author's consent and written confirmation). Texts must be submitted for consideration in electronic format. The DAR Prize is open to all authors. Given the prize's main goals — promoting contemporary Russian-language literature outside of Russia — and the nature of the award itself (a translation grant), priority will be given to authors whose works have not previously been translated into English, French, or German.
