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

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

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)

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

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