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

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Sakharov Fellows

Sakharov Fellowship

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

The European Parliament has awarded the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia.

During the ceremony at December’s plenary session in Strasbourg, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola paid tribute to their fight to restore democracy in Venezuela.

Parliament recognises the opposition as the legitimate winners of Venezuela’s July 2024 presidential election, and condemns the electoral fraud and rights violations carried out by the Maduro regime that stayed in power despite mass protests.

The Sakharov Prize is the EU’s highest award for human rights defenders. The other finalists from 2024 were Azerbaijani anti-corruption activist Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu and the Women of the Sun and Women Wage Peace movements, which promote reconciliation and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians.

Read more on the 2024 Sakharov Prize winners: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20240913STO23909/sakharov-prize-2024-goes-to-venezuelan-opposition-leaders

Parliament hands 2024 Sakharov Prize to Venezuelan opposition

The European Parliament has awarded the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia.

During the ceremony at December’s plenary session in Strasbourg, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola paid tribute to their fight to restore democracy in Venezuela.

Parliament recognises the opposition as the legitimate winners of Venezuela’s July 2024 presidential election, and condemns the electoral fraud and rights violations carried out by the Maduro regime that stayed in power despite mass protests.

The Sakharov Prize is the EU’s highest award for human rights defenders. The other finalists from 2024 were Azerbaijani anti-corruption activist Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu and the Women of the Sun and Women Wage Peace movements, which promote reconciliation and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians.

Read more on the 2024 Sakharov Prize winners: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20240913STO23909/sakharov-prize-2024-goes-to-venezuelan-opposition-leader

Parliament hands 2024 Sakharov Prize to Venezuelan opposition 9:16

The European Parliament has awarded the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia.

Parliament recognised the opposition as rightful winners of July 2024’s presidential election and rejected the widespread electoral fraud and the proclaimed victory of Nicolas Maduro.

With the EU’s highest honour for human rights defenders, Parliament pays tribute to Ms Machado and Mr González Urrutia’s fight to restore democracy, and stands with those defending freedom against authoritarian regimes worldwide.

Read more on the 2024 Sakharov Prize winners:

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20240913STO23909/sakharov-prize-2024-goes-to-venezuelan-opposition-leaders

European Parliament honours María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia

Peace Nobel Prize winner Denis Mukwege speaks out against the use of rape and violence towards women as a weapon of war.
He is the founder of the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. As a gynaecologist, he helped thousands of women victims of sexual and gender-based violence in his country.
In 2014, the European Parliament awarded him the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought for his work. Four years later, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. He continues to raise public awareness on the issue of sexual violence against women during armed conflicts.

* Watch the full speech on the European Parliament's Multimedia Centre: http://epyoutube.eu/SpeechMukwege

Dr Denis Mukwege speech on sexual violence in Congo | European Parliament

South African leader Nelson Mandela called for a swift end to the apartheid system and preached reconciliation.
 
It was July 1990. Just four months earlier he had been released, after 27 years in prison.
 
At the time, South Africa was still ruled by a white minority government. Four years after this speech, Mandela would become the first president of a democratic South Africa.

* Watch the full speech on the European Parliament's Multimedia Centre:
http://epyoutube.eu/SpeechMandela

Nelson Mandela speech on apartheid | European Parliament

Human rights campaigner Nadia Murad told the European Parliament in 2016 that the fights against terrorism and racism go hand in hand.
   
Her speech came as she was awarded the 2016 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought alongside Lamiya Aji Bashar.
 
The pair, from Iraq’s Yazidi community, were soldinto sexual slavery by the Islamic State terror group in 2014. Murad managed to escape and went on to advocate for victims of sexual violence and human trafficking. In 2018 she won the Nobel Peace Prize.     
   
*Watch the full speech on the European Parliament's multimedia channel.  
 
*Watch more videos from past Sakharov prizes: http://epyoutube.eu/Sakharov_Prize_playlist

Nadia Murad’s speech on fighting extremism | European Parliament

The European Parliament awarded Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran with the 2023 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought at a special ceremony in Strasbourg.  
       
Jina Mahsa Amini, an Iranian-Kurdish woman, died in 2022 at the hands of Iran’s so-called morality police. They said she broke strict hijab rules. Her death sparked protests in Iran and around the world.        
       
MEPs continue to stand with the women of Iran in their struggle for freedom and equality.

European Parliament honours Jina Mahsa Amini and Woman, Life, Freedom

The European Parliament has awarded the 2023 Sakharov Prize to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom protest movement in Iran. Parliament stands with Iranian women who continue to fight for their rights and for equality and democracy. 

Amini was a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman. She was arrested by Iran’s "morality police" for allegedly ignoring Iran’s strict veiling laws. She died three days later following physical violence while in custody. 

When the news of her death broke in September 2022, spontaneous demonstrations erupted across the country, under the rallying cry Woman, Life, Freedom. People around the world marched in solidarity.

Sakharov Prize 2023: Jina Mahsa Amini and Woman, Life, Freedom in Iran - VT

Clip: Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought (1988 - 2023)

This video presents all the laureates of the Sakharov Prize since its creation in 1988.

Clip: Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought (1988 - 2024)

The brave People of Ukraine, represented by their president, elected leaders and civil society have been awarded the 2022 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. MEPs honoured Ukrainians for their commitment to fighting for rights and freedoms. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Parliament by video link, as MEPs repeated their call for an international tribunal to investigate Russian war crimes.

2022 Sakharov Prize awarded to the brave People of Ukraine

Parliament will award the 2023 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the brave People of Ukraine for their fight for freedom and democracy. 
 
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address MEPs via video link and members of Ukraine’s State Emergency Services, civil society as well as elected leaders will receive the award at the ceremony in Strasbourg in the name of the People of Ukraine. 
 
MEPs will vote on proposals to speed up issuing renewable energy project permits and reducing the energy consumption of buildings. Both steps will help the green transition and boost energy independence. 
 
Parliament is also expected to call for more robust rules to support people with disabilities. All that and more, coming up in Parliament.

Sakharov Prize, green energy permits, disabilities – coming up in Parliament

The European Parliament awarded the 2022 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the brave people of Ukraine, represented by President Zelenskyy, Ukrainian elected leaders and civil society. 
  
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, millions of people have been displaced, tens of thousands killed or injured.
 
Yet despite the brutality of the occupying forces and the unimaginable human suffering, the people of Ukraine have refused to bow. 
  
By awarding them with the Sakharov Prize, the European Parliament reiterates its solidarity with the people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom and independence.

Sakharov Prize 2022: The brave people of Ukraine

MEPs are set to call for bolder steps to mitigate the social and economic impact of the war in Ukraine.    
   
Parliament will set its position on cleaner fuels for the shipping industry and new infrastructure for alternative fuels for road transport. It will also lay out priorities for the 2023 EU budget.    
   
Plus, the winner of the 2022 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will be announced. All that and more, coming up in Strasbourg.

War, fuels, EU budget, Sakharov winner – coming up in Strasbourg

The European Parliament will have a busy agenda when MEPs return in September. They will be looking to ensure the green transition and boost EU energy autonomy in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In addition, Parliament wants to see citizens’ proposals from the Conference on the Future of Europe delivered upon. MEPs are set to quiz the European Commission president during the State of the Union debate and will honour human rights advocates with the Sakharov Prize in December.

What’s in store for the 2nd half of 2022?

Sara Bahai was hailed as a feminist hero when, against all odds, she became the first woman taxi driver in Afghanistan, defying the country’s strict gender norms. She was forced to flee the country when the Taliban returned to power in 2021 and is now safely settled in Portugal. She talked about her fight, ahead of a high-level conference at the European Parliament on this issue.

Afghanistan’s first woman taxi driver seeks refuge in Europe

Parliament has awarded the 2021 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to jailed Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Meanwhile, MEPs voted on ways to achieve gender equality and discussed growing tensions on the Russia-Ukraine border.

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