[2] Harbunova was detained on 9 November 2021 and released to a sentence of three years of house arrest on 6 May 2022 in relation to women's rights marches held in 2020.

Within a fortnight, prison authorities responded by providing her with a mattress to sleep on, medical necessities and letting her send and receive mail.

[4] On 26 December 2022, Harbunova was appointed Representative for Social Issues in the United Transitional Cabinet, the government-in-exile claiming to be the de jure government of Belarus, based on the argument that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was the likely real winner of the 2020 Belarusian presidential election.

Harbunova's role would involve legal, social, psychological and humanitarian assistance and helping to develop the position of human rights ombudsman.

Andrew Anderson of Front Line Defenders described the award as recognising Harbunova for "her longstanding efforts to fight for the human rights of women and children in Belarus".