Ruslana - Woman of Courage, International Pop Star, Former Ukraine Parliament Member and EuroMaidan Protest Leader - to Discuss Current Crisis at National Press Club

Newsmakers News Conference Follows State Department Ceremony Presenting Annual Women of Courage Awards

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Mar 03, 2014, 09:45 ET

WASHINGTON, March 3, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the tense political situation in Ukraine continues to become more volatile by the day, one of Ukraine's most internationally recognizable and politically active citizens will discuss the situation there at the National Press Club on Wednesday, March 5 at 3 p.m. in the club's Conference Rooms.

The news conference featuring Ruslana Lyzhychko – known simply as Ruslana – comes one day after she receives the U.S. Secretary of State's international Women of Courage Award, which honors women around the globe for exemplifying exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for human rights, women's equality and social progress, often at great personal risk.

Newsweek and The Daily Beast have chronicled her role as a leader of the EuroMaidan protests. Forbes Magazine has just named her one of the 10 most influential women of 2013.

Ruslana's musical career started in 1996, when she won the international song festival in Belarus. She has gone on to receive more than 40 awards and is internationally recognized as the most successful solo female Ukrainian artist. Her 2004 album Wild Dances dominated 14 different charts throughout Europe for 97 weeks. She received the prestigious World Music Award as the top selling Ukrainian artist in the world.

She is equally well known for her commitment to social and political causes – actively supporting Ukraine's 2004 "Orange Revolution" and serving as an outspoken member of the Ukrainian Parliament from spring 2006 to the summer of 2007. UNICEF appointed Ruslana Ukraine's Good Will Ambassador.

Ruslana has been a key figure in the EuroMaidan mass protests since they began last November, appearing on Kyiv's Independence Square almost every night from midnight to dawn, speaking and performing. Her determination to fight for a European Union future for Ukraine has earned her such sobriquets as "Minstrel of the Street Revolution," "Kyiv's Queen of the Night" and "Voice of the Revolution."

Appearing at the Newsmakers news conference with Ruslana will be Nadia Komarnyckyj McConnell, Founder and the President of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation.

This NPC Newsmaker news conference is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, March 5 at 3 p.m. in the Club's Conference Rooms, on the 13^th floor of the National Press Building at 529 14^th St. NW, Washington DC, 20045.

Contacts:

Myron Belkind, National Press Club President
[email protected], 202-662-7517

Herb Perone, NPC Newsmakers Chair
[email protected], 301-512-7636

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SOURCE National Press Club