Liu Xiaobo

Age: 55
Occupation: Imprisoned author and dissident
Previous TIME 100 appearances: 0

The jailed Chinese activist and 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner, whose award was a jab at China's human-rights violations, was forbidden to attend the ceremony in Oslo, as were his wife and close relatives. His absence was marked by an empty chair on the stage, and no medal or diploma was presented. "This fact alone shows that the award was necessary and appropriate," said Thorbjorn Jagland, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, who called for Liu's release.

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