The Sakharov prize, the European Parliament’s annual award given to organizations and individuals that defend freedom of thought and human rights, was bestowed this year to the people of Ukraine, represented by their president, elected leaders, and civil society, Euractiv reports.
Announcing on Wednesday the €50,000 prize granted to civil society representatives, EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola praised the efforts of the Ukrainians in their fight against Russia, stressing that they’re risking their lives for Europe.
Ukrainian people were proposed for the award in September by the two biggest and oldest political groups, the S&D and European People’s Party (EPP), while the other two finalists, WikiLeaks activist Julian Assange and the Colombian Truth Commission, were put forward by the Italian 5 Stars Movement and The Left respectively.
The EPP and S&D groups said that the people of Ukraine deserve to win the awards since their battle is also for European democracy and freedom.
Expressing gratitude for the award, Ukraine’s president Volodymir Zelensky pointed out in his message posted on Twitter that Ukrainians prove dedication to the values of freedom, and democracy every day on the battlefield against Russia, stressing that the support of the EU nations is very important to them on this path.
Congratulating the winners, the 5 Stars Movement’s MEP Sabrina Pignedoli stressed that her party expects for all finalists to be invited by the European Parliament to the award ceremony scheduled for December plenary in Strasbourg.
Named in honor of Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, the Sakharov award was established in 1988 and the first winners were the Soviet dissident and author Anatoli Marchenko as well as anti-apartheid activist and South African former president Nelson Mandela.
Vladimir Putin’s biggest critic, the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny who is currently detained in Russia, won the award in 2021.
