Former Soviet Leader President Mikhail Gorbachev Honoured With 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards Free Your Mind Award

Former Soviet Leader President Mikhail Gorbachev Honoured With 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards Free Your Mind Award

Award Presented by MTV Networks International Chairman & Chief Executive, Bill Roedy Event also attended by Sir Bob Geldof and Former German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher

BERLIN, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Soviet leader President Mikhail Gorbachev was awarded the 2009 EMA Free Your Mind Award in Berlin last night on the eve of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the fall of the Berlin Wall. President Gorbachev received the prestigious Award from Bill Roedy, Chairman & Chief Executive, MTV Networks International, at a private gala dinner hosted by the Cinema for Peace Foundation, which was also attended by singer, songwriter and political activist Sir Bob Geldof, classical singer Placido Domingo and former German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher.

MTV's global Free Your Mind Campaign aims to highlight humanitarian issues and encourage freedom from all kinds of intolerance and prejudice. The Free Your Mind Award is intended for any individual or organisation that embodies the ideals of MTV's campaign. President Gorbachev received the award in recognition of his contribution to new attitudes and democracy in the Eastern bloc and for bringing about change in Europe.

Commented Bill Roedy Chairman & Chief Executive, MTV Networks International: "We are proud to present the Free Your Mind Award to President Gorbachev in recognition of his bravery, his courage and his determination to bring about change through people power. By being open to unity he broke down physical and psychological barriers and brought peace, stability and freedom to Europe."

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev served as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, from 1985 until 1991, and was the last head of state of the USSR, serving from 1988 until its collapse in 1991. Born in Stavropol Krai into a peasant family, in his teens Gorbachev operated combine harvesters on collective farms before graduating from Moscow State University in 1955 with a degree in law. While in college, he became an active member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. In 1970, he was appointed the First Party Secretary of the Stavropol Kraikom, First Secretary to the Supreme Soviet in 1974, and appointed a member of Politburo in 1979. Gorbachev was elected General Secretary by Politburo in 1985.

President Gorbachev's reforming agenda as well as summit conferences with United States President Ronald Reagan and his reorientation of Soviet strategic aims lead to the birth of a new age in Europe. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.

Previous winners include: Campaigner against street violence, Anton Abele (2007), Aung San Suu Kyi--Burma's democratically elected leader and Nobel Peace laureate (2003), FARE--Football Against Racism in Europe (2002), TAC--Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) of South Africa, a group doing extraordinary work around HIV/AIDS (2001), OTPOR--a grassroots student pressure movement founded in 1998 to counter Slobodan Milosevic's oppressive regime (2000), Bono (1999), Serbian Independent Radio Station B92 (1998), The Landmine Survivors' Network (1997), The Buddies and Carers of Europe (1996), Greenpeace (1995), and Amnesty International (1994).

The MTV Europe Music Awards took place in Berlin on Thursday 5 November. The event, which was held at the 02 World, was hosted by Katy Perry and featured performances by Beyonce, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Jay-Z, Leona Lewis, Shakira and Tokio Hotel. U2 performed to a crowd of 10,000 at the iconic Brandenburg Gate. This performance, which was beamed into the Awards, included surprise guest Jay-Z, who joined hands with Bono and led the audience in a chant of Bob Marley's Get Up Stand Up in tribute to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Guest presenters at the EMAs included David The Hoff Hasselhoff, Lil' Kim, Wladimir Klitschko, Jesse Metcalfe, pop/rock phenomena Jonas Brothers, Backstreet Boys, Juliette Lewis, Jean Reno, Miranda Cosgrove, Asia Argento, Bar Refaeli, Brody Jenner, David Guetta and Batista. Soul singer Joss Stone hosted digital show 2009 EMA: Red Carpet Show while Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz hosted digital show 2009 EMA: All Access.

The MTV Europe Music Awards were sponsored by Sony Ericsson, MTV Games / Harmonix's The Beatles(TM): Rock Band(TM) and Dell.

   Note to Editors    About the MTV Europe Music Awards  

The 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards will be broadcast live in the following countries: Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

About MTV Networks International

MTV Networks International includes the premier multimedia entertainment brands MTV: Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, MTVNHD, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Flux, Paramount Comedy, Comedy Central, Game One, Neopets, GameTrailers, Shockwave, Addicting Games, Atom Films and Xfire. MTV Networks' brands are seen globally in 578 million households, in 162 countries and 33 languages via 168 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 400 digital media properties. The company's diverse holdings also include interests in television syndication, digital media, publishing, home video, radio, recorded music, licensing & merchandising and two feature film divisions, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. MTV Networks is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) .

About Sony Ericsson

Sony Ericsson is a 50:50 joint venture by Sony and Ericsson established in October 2001, with global corporate functions located in London and operations in all major markets. Our vision is to become the industry leader in Communication Entertainment; where new styles of communicating through the internet and social media, become entertainment. Sony Ericsson offers exciting consumer experiences through phones, accessories, content and applications. For more information please visit: www.sonyericsson.com.

About The Beatles: Rock Band

The Beatles: Rock Band marks the first time that Apple Corps, along with EMI Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Harrisongs Ltd and Startling Music Ltd has presented The Beatles music in an interactive video game format. The Beatles: Rock Band is published by MTV Games and developed by Harmonix, the world's premier music video game company and creators of the best-selling Rock Band, and available on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Wii(TM) console from Nintendo.

About MTV Games

MTV Games is dedicated to creating, marketing and publishing high-quality, innovative interactive products that are relevant to the MTV audience and complement the core values of the MTV Networks brands.

About Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.

Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., based in Cambridge, MA, and established in 1995, is the leading developer of ground-breaking music-oriented videogames. Harmonix was founded by Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy, who formed the company to invent new ways for non-musicians to experience the unique joy that comes from making music and have pioneered music and rhythm gaming in the US. For more information please visit: www.harmonixmusic.com.

About Dell

People worldwide can buy Dell online, by phone and through more than 43,000 stores.

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Source: MTV Networks International

CONTACT: For further press information and for biographies and artwork
please contact: Polly Stevens, Director, Communications, MTV Europe Music
Awards, +44-207-478-6328, +44-7768-773386, Polly.stevens@mtvne.com, or go to:
www.ema.mtv.co.uk/press

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Profile: International Entertainment