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 announced in October, and the award ceremony takes place in December at plenary sitting in Strasbourg.

Ilham Tohti, an Uyghur economist fighting for the rights of China’s Uyghur minority, is the winner of the Sakharov Prize 2019.

The finalists were:

°Murdered Brazilian political activist and human rights defender Marielle Franco, Native Brazilian leader and environmentalist Chief Raoni and Brazilian environmentalist and human rights defender Claudelice Silva dos Santos °The Restorers, a group of five students from Kenya - Stacy Owino, Cynthia Otieno, Purity Achieng, Mascrine Atieno and Ivy Akinyi - who have developed i-Cut, an app to help girls deal with female genital mutilation (FGM) °Ilham Tohti, an Uyghur economist fighting for the rights of China’s Uyghur minority

Sakharov Prize 2019

The European Parliament supports human rights through the annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, established in 1988.

The prize is awarded to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the fight for human rights across the globe, drawing attention to human rights violations as well as supporting the laureates and their cause.

The winner is announced in October, and the award ceremony takes place in November/December at the plenary sitting in Strasbourg.

Oleg Sentsov is the 2018 laureate of Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Oleg SENTSOV, Sakharov Prize 2018

Kofi ANNAN was a former UN Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize winner. In 2003, the United Nations staff and Secretary General Kofi Annan were honoured with the Sakharov Prize.

Kofi Annan

Since October 2020, the EU has&nbsp;progressively imposed restrictive measures&nbsp;against Belarus in response to the fraudulent nature&nbsp; presidential elections in&nbsp;2020, and the&nbsp;intimidation and violent repression&nbsp;of peaceful protesters, opposition members and journalists.&nbsp;

The democratic opposition, including the opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was awarded the&nbsp;2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

The Belarusian regime has became an ally&nbsp;with Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine. This includes the so-called referendum reinstating the country’s nuclear status, but also that Belarus has allowed Russian troops and weapons to move through its territory, use its airspace, refuel and store military ammunition.

Therefore, the EU has extended the sanctios package against Russia to Belarus. The EP has recently called that "all EU sanctions issued against Russia must be strictly mirrored for Belarus and implemented appropriately".

EU - Belarus

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2022 - Interviews

Powerful. Moving. Visionary. There were speeches in the history of the European Union that have made Europe the way it is today. In this short video, you can see a selection of famous quotes from:TIMOTHY GARTON ASH, LOUISE WEISS, FRANÇOIS MITTERRAND, HELMUT KOHL, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, NADIA MURAD, TOOMAS ILVES, TIMOTHY SNYDER, ROBERTA METSOLA, SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA, VACLAV HAVEL, GRETA THUNBERG Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely. Powerful. Moving. Visionary. There were speeches in the history of the European Union that have made Europe the way it is today. In this short video, you can see a selection of famous quotes from:

EPRS - Speeches that have made Europe

Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates to the European Council meeting on the 15th December in Brussels. She gives a press conference and talks about the latest updates on the ongoing investigations in Belgium involving some members and staff of the European Parliament, the accession to Schengen of Bulgaria and Romania, the USA "Inflation Reduction Act", the RePowerEU plan, thanks the Czech presidency of the EU and welcome the upcoming Swedish Presidency.

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President at the European Council meeting 15/12

At this year’s youth seminar, invitees from European Parliament Ambassador schools (EPAS) from the 27 Member States and the United Kingdom, together with the group Alumni de l’Académie Notre Europe, were able to listen to inspiring stories from representatives of this year’s laureate, the brave Ukrainian people, and engage in the discussion together with Vice-President Heidi Hautala of the European Parliament. With the participation of Heidi Hautala, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Ivan Fedorov, elected mayor of Melitopol, Oleksandra Matviychuk, human rights lawyer, chairwoman of the Center for Civil Liberties NGO, and Yaroslav Bozhko, the Yellow Ribbon Civil Resistance Movement. Moderator Markus Bonekamp, Head of Visits and Seminars Unit, European Parliament

Panel discussion on the occasion of the award of the 2022 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the brave people of Ukraine.

On the 14th December 2022, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of thought is awarded to the "brave people of Ukraine". A ceremony takes place in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg. After the ceremony, Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Sakharov prize laureates hold a press conference.

Award of the 2022 Sakharov Prize: Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Sakharov prize laureates

On the 14th December 2022, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of thought is awarded to the "brave people of Ukraine". A ceremony takes place in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg. Full video of the award being given to the representatives present in the hemicycle: Oleksandra MATVIYCHUK, Human rights lawyer and Chair of the Center for Civil Liberties; Ivan FEDOROV, Mayor of the Ukrainian city of Melitopol; Yaroslav BOZHKO from the Yellow Riboon Civil Resistance Movment; Yulia PAJEVSKA, founder of the medical evacuation unit Angels of Taira; Oleksandr CHEKRYHIN and Stanislav KULYKIVSKI from the State Emergency Service and Vsevolod CHENTSOV, Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union. Family pictures are taken after the ceremony.

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2022: ceremony and hand over of the prize to Oleksandra MATVIYCHUK, Ivan FEDOROV, Yaroslav BOZHKO, Yulia PAJEVSKA, Oleksandr CHEKRYHIN, Stanislav KULYKIVSKI and Vsevolod CHENTSOV

On the 14th December 2022, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of thought is awarded to the "brave people of Ukraine". A ceremony takes place in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg. Ambiance shots prior to the ceremony. Statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President.

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2022: Statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

On the 14th December 2022, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of thought is awarded to the "brave people of Ukraine". A ceremony takes place in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg. Ambiance shots prior to the ceremony. Introductory statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President.

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2022: ambiance shots prior to the ceremony Introductory statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

On the 14th December 2022, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of thought is awarded to the "brave people of Ukraine". A ceremony takes place in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg. Volodymyr ZELENSKYY, President of Ukraine, connects remotely to the hemycicle and gives a speech to thanks the European Parliament for awarding his people.

Sakharov Prize

Videos

EPRS - Speeches that have made Europe

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President at the European Council meeting 15/12

Panel discussion on the occasion of the award of the 2022 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the brave people of Ukraine.

Award of the 2022 Sakharov Prize: Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Sakharov prize laureates

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2022: ceremony and hand over of the prize to Oleksandra MATVIYCHUK, Ivan FEDOROV, Yaroslav BOZHKO, Yulia PAJEVSKA, Oleksandr CHEKRYHIN, Stanislav KULYKIVSKI and Vsevolod CHENTSOV

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2022: Statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2022: ambiance shots prior to the ceremony Introductory statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2022: statement by Volodymyr ZELENSKYY, Ukrainian President

Photos

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2022 - Interviews

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2022 - Interviews

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2022 - Interviews

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2022 - Interviews

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2022 - Interviews

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2022 - Interviews

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2022 - Interviews

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2022 - Interviews

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Sakharov Prize 2019

Oleg SENTSOV, Sakharov Prize 2018

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