The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded each year by the European Parliament to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. Russian opposition politician and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny is awarded the 2021 Sakharov Prize in a ceremony.

ceremony

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2021 (T)

NAVALNAYA, Daria

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2021: extracts from the ceremony

Cutaways : arrival of Daria Navalnaya (1 shot) 

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Today we are united here to convey the Sakharov Prize for the freedom of thought to Alexei Navalny. The empty chair in this hemicycle is here to symbolise once again, unfortunately that the laureate of our prize has no freedom and without great bitterness. Alexei Navalny cannot be with us today because he is unjustly being held in a prison of the Russian Federation.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, He's a political prisoner and on behalf of the European Parliament, I call upon his immediate and unconditional release.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, For all of us who dream for a better society, a fairer society in Russia, but not in Russia, the European Parliament will make all the efforts necessary to support their battles and to protect them. Myself and the European Parliament are hoping impatiently for the day when Alexei Navalny can come back to the European Parliament personally to receive the Sakharov Prize.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daria NAVALNAYA, daughter of Alexei Navalny, I wanted to tell everyone how incredibly grateful I am to be here accepting this award for my father and at the same time absolutely terrified. This is a big honour for me to be able to stand here in front of all of you. And as a 22 years old college student who doesn't know much about politics, I'm very much afraid and anxious to mess this up.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daria NAVALNAYA, daughter of Alexei Navalny, I asked myself today why is it so hard to free from captivity those who are fighting for human rights? Why are they still thrown in jail? Not only all over the world, but in European geographically, European countries and the twenty first century?

SOUNDBITE (English), Daria NAVALNAYA, daughter of Alexei Navalny,, This is the Sakharov Prize. And Andrei Sakharov was probably one of the most non-pragmatic people on the planet. I don&rsquo;t understand why those, who advocate for pragmatic relations with dictators can&rsquo;t simply open some history textbooks. It would be a very pragmatic act and, having done it, it&rsquo;s very easy to understand the inescapable political law: the pacification of dictators and tyrants never works.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daria NAVALNAYA, daughter of Alexei Navalny, We already know that a real terrorist group has been created inside Putin's special services. Killing citizens of my country without a hearing or trial. Without justice. They were close to killing my mother, they almost killed my father, and no one will guarantee that tomorrow European politicians won't start falling dead by touching the doorknob. And now, you are already increasing the police budget. You give a lot of money to the special services. Spend billions on new ways to detect toxic substances. And these are all consequences of pragmatism.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daria NAVALNAYA, daughter of Alexei Navalny, We strive for Europe of ideas, the celebration of human rights, democracy, and integrity. And we don&rsquo;t want the Europe of chancellors and ministers, who dream of getting a job on the board of directors of Putin's state-owned companies or sailing on an oligarch's yacht. 

Cutaways : Daria Navalnaya receiving the prize (6 shots)