Navalny, Russia’s most prominent voice of opposition, known for exposing corruption and being an ardent critic of President Vladimir Putin, died under mysterious circumstances on 16 February 2024  in a remote Arctic penal colony. In 2021, he was awarded the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Alexei Navalny, 2021 Sakharov Prize winner

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named in honour of the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, is awarded each year by the European Parliament. It was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Each nominee must have the support of at least 40 MEPs, and each individual Member may support only one nominee. Signed nominations accompanied by supporting evidence are then assessed in a joint meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and the Committee on Development (DEVE). A shortlist of three candidates is drawn up through a vote by AFET and DEVE committees, and then submitted to the Conference of Presidents for a final vote. The winner is usually announced in October, and the award ceremony takes place in November/December at plenary sitting in Strasbourg.

Sakharov Prize 2017

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Israel and occupied Palestinian territories - Meeting with Reem AL HAJAJRA, Director of Women of the Sun and Sakharov Prize Nominee

DEVE AFET DROI - Presentation of candidates for the Sakharov Prize 2024

EP Plenary session - Announcement of the Sakharov Prize 2023 Laureate

AFET DEVE DROI - Announcement of the Sakharov Prize for the Freedom of Thought 2023 Candidates - Statements

AFET DEVE DROI joint Committee - Sakharov Prize 2023: Presentation of candidates

Full-size replica of Sakharov Prize laureate Alexey Navalny’s prison cell

First Vice-President Othmar Karas meets with the Laureates of the Sakharov Prize 2022.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Sakharov fellows

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Jewher ILHAM, the daughter of Sakharov Prize laureate Tohti ILHAM

Reportage from the Ukrainian border region by Lorent Saleh, 2017 Sakharov Prize Laureate followed by exchange of views

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Guillermo FARINAS, cuban Sakharov Prize laureates

EP Plenary Session - Award of the  Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Daria NAVALNAYA, daughter of Alexei NAVALNY, the 2021 Sakharov Prize laureate, and Leonid VOLKOV, Chief of Staff of Alexei NAVALNY

Temporary exhibition “Andrei Sakharov: Scientist, Dissident, Human Rights Activist”

EP Plenary session -  Sakharov Prize 2021 laureate

EP Conference of Presidents on the decision on laureate of the 2021 Sakharov Prize

Announcement of the results of the vote on the shortlist of three candidates for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2021.Press point

Sakharov Fellowship for human rights defenders programme and Lorent Saleh, 2017 Sakharov Prize Laureate, visit to the Parlamentarium

Recording of Sakharov Prize 2007: Award ceremony Salih Mahmoud Mohamed Osman - Sudan

Sakharov Prize 2007: Award ceremony Salih Mahmoud Mohamed OSMAN - Sudan

Recording of the Sakharov Prize 2006 Award ceremony for Aliaksandr Milinkevich - Belarus

Sakharov Prize 2006: Award ceremony Aliaksandr Milinkevich - Belarus

Part two of the Recording for the Sakharov Prize 2005 Award ceremony for Reporters Without Borders - headquaters in France, Hauwa IBRAHIM - Nigeria, Ladies in White - Cuba

(2/2) Sakharov Prize 2005: Award ceremony Reporters Without Borders - headquaters in France, Hauwa IBRAHIM - Nigeria, Ladies in White - Cuba

Part one of the Recording for the Sakharov Prize 2005 Award ceremony for Reporters Without Borders - headquaters in France, Hauwa IBRAHIM - Nigeria, Ladies in White - Cuba

(1/2) Sakharov Prize 2005: Award ceremony Reporters Without Borders - headquaters in France, Hauwa IBRAHIM - Nigeria, Ladies in White - Cuba

This infoclip shows illustrative footage of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, awardee of the Sakharov Prize 2004.

Infoclip : Sakharov Prize 2004 - Award to Belarusian Association of Journalists

Recording of the Sakharov Prize 2004 Award ceremony The Belarusian Association of Journalists - Belarus. Zhanna LITVINA, President of Belarus Association of Journalists, received the prize

Sakharov Prize 2004: Award ceremony The Belarusian Association of Journalists - Belarus

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2004 to Belarusian Association of Journalists during the EP plenary session the 14th of December 2004. Josep BORRELL, EP President, meets with Zhanna LITVINA, President of Belarus Association of Journalists and meeting with the AFET Committee.

Sakharov Prize 2004: Josep BORRELL, EP President, meets with Zhanna LITVINA, President of Belarus Association of Journalists and meeting with the AFET Committee

Award ceremony of the Sakharov Prize 2004 to Belarusian Association of Journalists during the EP plenary session the 14th of December 2004

Sakharov Prize 2004: Award ceremony with Zhanna LITVINA, President of the Belarus Association of Journalists

Recording of the Sakharov Prize 2003 Award ceremony to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and all the staff of the UN - headquarters in New York, USA

Sakharov Prize 2003: Award ceremony United Nations Secretary-General Kofi ANNAN and all the staff of the UN - headquarters in New York, USA

Recording of the Sakharov Prize 2001 Award ceremony for Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas - Cuba

Sakharov Prize 2002: Award ceremony Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas - Cuba

Recording of the Sakharov Prize 2001 Award ceremony for Izzat Ghazzawi - Palestine, Nurit Peled-Elhanan - Israel, Dom Zacarias Kamwenho - Angola

Sakharov Prize 2001: Award ceremony Izzat GHAZZAWI - Palestine, Nurit PELED-ELHANAN - Israel, Dom Zacarias KAMWENHO - Angola

¡BASTA YA! was recognised by the European Parliament that same year for its active campaigning for human rights, democracy and tolerance in the Basque Country. Spokesperson Fernando SAVATER represented the organisation at the European Parliament.

Sakharov Prize 2000: Award ceremony ¡BASTA YA! - Spain

Recording of the Sakharov Prize 1999 Award ceremony for Xanana Gusmão - East Timor

Sakharov Prize 1999: Award ceremony Xanana GUSMAO (Gusmão) - East Timor

Recording of the Sakharov Prize 1998: Award ceremony Ibrahim Rugova - Kosovo

Sakharov Prize 1998: Award ceremony Ibrahim RUGOVA - Kosovo

Recording of the award ceremony for Salima GHEZALI, Algeria

Sakharov Prize 1997: Award ceremony Salima GHEZALI - Algeria

Recording of the Sakharov Prize ceremony 1996: Award ceremony for Wei Jingsheng (in absentia) - China. His wife Shan-Shan Wei-Blank received the prize. At the time of his Sakharov Prize award in 1996 he was still in prison.

Sakharov Prize 1996: Award ceremony Wei Jingsheng (in absentia) - China

Recording of the Sakharov Prize 1995 Award ceremony for Leyla ZANA (in absentia), Turkey. Her husband, Medi ZANA, received the prize.

Sakharov Prize 1995: Award ceremony Leyla ZANA (in absentia), Turkey

This is a recording of the Sakharov Prize 1994 Award ceremony for Taslima Nasreen - Bangladesh

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