Modern-day unthinkable courage, like that of the OXI Day Greeks, was recognized on the 86th anniversary of OXI Day by the Washington OXI Day Foundation. As it does each year, the Foundation presented two OXI Courage Awards at a black-tie gala with diplomats and humanitarians and others gathered to hear their stories.
VICTORIA ROSHCHYNA
Twenty-seven-year-old Victoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist, had her life cut short because she refused to stop exposing Russian atrocities against Ukrainian citizens. On October 28, 2026, the Washington OXI Day Foundation honored her posthumously with the OXI Courage Award for her unshakeable courage, similar to that of the OXI Day Greeks.
The award was accepted by Simon Shuster of the Atlantic at the personal request of Victoria’s father who was too ill to travel. In his acceptance remarks, Shuster shared a message from Victoria’s father, “the truth must not be allowed to die in captivity. Victoria lived by that principle…She first fell in love with journalism in the 5th grade when she first wrote a story for her school paper. That was about the age she wrote a message in the yearbook about happiness… she wrote that ‘for her, happiness means living not only for yourself but for the sake of helping others, that was her happiness.’”
Simon Shuster accepts award on behalf of Victoria Roshchyna’s family, presented by Andy Manatos, founder of the Washington OXI Day Foundation
Victoria insisted on going to the frontlines to report on the atrocities. Despite being detained, threatened, and even fired upon, she continued her work. And in fact, insisted on it, despite being cautioned against it. In March 2022 her car came under fire from Russian tanks and then she was detained by Russian forces for ten days. She was released after being forced to record a statement praising her captors. Rather than retreating, she didn’t stop.
In fact, her father wrote “we had plans for her to travel to Washington to receive an award for her work. We had tickets; we had booked the hotel, but instead she went back to Russian occupied territory to the city of Mariupol to continue reporting. She did so with a single purpose—to show the world the brutal truth about the crimes of the Russian aggressor. That commitment cost Victoria her life.” She disappeared in August 2023 while reporting in Russian-occupied territory and was later confirmed to have died in Russian detention, with evidence of torture. Her bravery and dedication made her a powerful voice for truth until her final days.
TOOMAJ SALEHI
The Washington OXI Day Foundation presented its second OXI Courage Award to Iranian rapper, activist, and political dissident Toomaj Salehi, who sent a message from Iran saying, “The spirit of “Oxi” the refusal to surrender to tyranny is one that I share with countless Iranians who continue to risk everything to say “No” to oppression. I accept this award on their behalf, as a reminder that even in the darkest times, courage can keep hope alive.
Salehi has become an international symbol of resistance, using his music to expose human rights abuses, corruption, and injustice under the Islamic Republic of Iran. In October 2022, he was arrested amid nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Jina Amini in Iranian custody. Despite enduring imprisonment, torture, prolonged solitary confinement, and a death sentence that was later overturned, Salehi has remained an outspoken advocate for freedom and human rights. His courage has earned international recognition, including the 2024 Václav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent.
Carl Gershman, past president for 37 years of the National Endowment for Democracy, presented the award to Azadeh Afsahi, Founder of Houses Foundation. She accepted the award on Salehi’s behalf, drawing a powerful connection between his resistance and the historic defiance of the Greek people on OXI Day. “We are born knowing how to resist. How to say no. In 1940, Greece resisted a dictator with that same word: Oxi. Eighty-six years later, a young rapper in Iran said it too, and it nearly cost him his life,” Afsahi said. “Toomaj has always spoken for others. So tonight, in his honor, I will too.”
“Victoria Roshcyna and Toomaj Salehi embody the extraordinary courage we seek to honor through the OXI Courage Awards,” said Andy Manatos, Founder of The Washington OXI Day Foundation. “Despite unimaginable threats, they refused to be silenced. As a result Toomaj was imprisoned and in solitary confinement, and Victoria lost her life. We are honored to recognize their bravery and amplify their voices as a reminder of our shared responsibility to defend freedom ,truth, democracy, and human rights around the world.” They join a distinguished group of past honorees, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian democracy activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, and Nobel Peace Prize laureates Nadia Murad, Maria Ressa, and María Corina Machado.
The Award presentation was made, in the presence of many dignitaries including H.E. The Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic, Antonis Alexandridis; Denys Sienik, charge d’Affaires of the Ukrainian embassy and Halyna Yuspiuk also of the Embassy, the Deputy Chief of Mission of Cyprus, Myrianthi Spathi as well as many other former ambassadors and other noted guests.
For the first time in its 15-year history, the gala event was held at the revered Washington National Cathedral in the exact spot where US Presidents pray in celebration of their inaugurations and, as well, sit for the funerals of fellow presidents.
For the occasion, the pews within the nave of the Washington National Cathedral were removed and replaced with our gala dinner tables for over 240 guests.
The Washington OXI Day Foundation, a nonprofit, 501c3 organization, with the cooperation and involvement of world-famous leaders, reminds the world of the miraculous OXI Day story and celebrates the modern-day heroes exhibiting the same OXI courage as the Greeks who fought to protect freedom and democracy.
Since its establishment in 2010, the Foundation has shared the story of the Greeks’ OXI day courage with millions around the world. Leaders from over 23 countries — Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, His-Holiness the Dalai Lama, and numerous presidents, prime ministers, US Members of Congress and other government officials — have joined the fight for freedom by proudly declaring “OXI” — NO.