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

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 the plenary sitting in Strasbourg.

The nominations for the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought are:

The democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by the Coordination Council, initiative of brave women and political and civil society figures, nominated by EPP, S&amp;D, Renew Europe 
Mgr Najeeb Moussa Michaeel, Archbishop of Mosul, Iraq nominated by ID 
Guapinol activists and Berta Caceres in Honduras, nominated by Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL 
The democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by Sviatlana Tsikhanouska, nominated by ECR 
Polish LGBTI activists Jakub Gawron, Paulina Pajak, Paweł Preneta and Kamil Maczuga, founders of the website Atlas of Hate, nominated by Malin Björk, Terry Reintke, Marc Angel, Rasmus Andresen and 39 other MEPs.

The democratic opposition in Belarus has been awarded the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Democratic Opposition in Belarus, Sakharov Prize 2020

European Youth Event (EYE 2021) - Workshops

Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought Strasbourg - Belarusia - Public online conference in cooperation with the City of Strasbourg

Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2020- Press conference

Press conferences with Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2020 laureates

EP Plenary session -Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2020

EP Plenary session- Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought Award Ceremony 2020

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya meeting the Belarusian diaspora

Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2020- David SASSOLI, EP President meets with the representatives of the democratic opposition in Belarus, laureates of the Sakharov Prize 2020.

David SASSOLI, EP President  meets with Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2020 laureates

Interview of Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2020 laureate Stsiapan PUTSILA

Interview of Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2020 laureates

DEVE/AFET/DROI  - Joint meeting of the Committees on Foreign Affairs and on Development and the Subcommittee on Human Rights, in association with the Delegation for Relations with Belarus  - Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2020

EP plenary session -  Announcement of the Sakharov Prize 2020 by David SASSOLI, EP President

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents - decision on the Sakharov Prize 2020 winner

EP joint Committee on Development and Committee on Foreign Affairsin cooperation with the Subcommittee on Human Rights - Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2020 - Vote on a shortlist of 3 candidatesPortraits des candidats Sakharov

Sakharov Prize 2020 candidate - Polish LGBTI activists

Pro and anti LGBT writings on a wall: Love is love and Stop bzdurom (name of the anarchy-queer collective fighting against homophobia) and a vulgar homophobic, anti gay slogan (on the right, vertical inscription).

Pawel Preneta, activist for the rights to equality and rights for LGBT persons nominated for the Sakharov Prize 2020.

Kamil Maczuga, Polish LGBTI activist, candidate for Sakharov Prize 2020.

Former Sakharov Prize laureates join the #UseYourVote campaign ahead of the European Parliament elections on 6-9 June. Svetlana TICHANOVSKAJA, Oleksandra MATVIICHUK, Lorent SALEH, Louise XIN and Leonid VOLKOV have a message for European citizens.

European elections 2024: Sakharov Prize laureates send a message to European citizens

This infoclip is a part of the video series called "European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024)", demonstrating Parliament's unwavering commitment to human rights and democracy around the globe. Since 1988, Parliament’s Sakharov Prize recognises individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to protecting freedom of thought in the world. The info clip shows illustrative material related to the five Sakharov Laureates of the 9th legislative term, namely Uyghur economist Ilham Tohti fighting for the rights of China’s Uyghur minority, the democratic opposition in Belarus, Russian opposition leader, lawyer, anti-corruption activist and political prisoner Alexei Navalny, the brave people of Ukraine as well as Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran.

European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024): Support to democracy and human rights activities

The leader of the democratic forces of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, will address MEPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee. She outline her views to the Foreign Affairs Committee on the war in Ukraine and the role of Belarus in the conflict, as well as comment on the latest political situation in Belarus, which is still ruled by an oppressive regime under dictator Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

Exchange of views with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of democratic forces of Belarus and Sakharov Prize laureate 2020: extracts - EP AFET Committee in association with the Delegation for relations with Belarus

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya speaks in the European Parliament’s hemicycle in Strasbourg. Her visit comes amid a continuing geopolitical crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Formal sitting - Address by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarusian opposition leader

David SASSOLI, EP President pays an official visit to Vilnius, in Lithuania where he meets with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Sakharov laureate 2020 and Belarus opposition leader (recorded 17/08).

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President to Lithuania: meeting with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Sakharov laureate 2020 and Belarus opposition leader

Formal opening of the 9th Ordinary Session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels. Greeting addresses by the Observers to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly: Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Democratic Representative of Belarus, Christa SCHWENG, President of the European Economic and Social Committee, Aleksandra DULKIEWICZ, Mayor of Gdansk (Poland) and CORLEAP Bureau member and Irina SUKHY and Sofia STRIVE, Co-Chairs of the Eastern Partnership - Civil Society Forum. The Euronest Parliamentary Assembly is a parliamentary forum to promote political association and further economic integration between the European Union and the EU's Eastern European partners.

Ninth Ordinary Session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly: Greeting addresses by the Observers to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly

In the framework of the award ceremony of the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Maria ADAMOVIC, Tatiana KHOMICH, Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Siarhei DYLEUSKI, Veranika TSAPKALA, Volha KAVALKOVA, Ales BIALIATSKI, and Stsiapan PUTSILA, representatives of the Belarusian democratic opposition, laureates of the Sakharov Prize 2020, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with the representatives of the Belarusian Democratic Opposition, laureates of the Sakharov Prize 2020: roundtable

David SASSOLI, EP President, Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA and Veranika TSAPKALA, Belarusian Democratic Opposition and laureates of the Sakharov Prize 2020, speak to the press in the European Parliament in Brussels. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Press conference by David SASSOLI, EP President, Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA and Veranika TSAPKALA, Belarusian Democratic Opposition and laureates of the Sakharov Prize 2020

Award ceremony of the 2020 Sakharov Prize during the plenary session (14-18/12) of the European Parliament, mainly in Brussels. The democratic opposition in Belarus is awarded in a ceremony in the European Parliament, in Brussels. Award Ceremony with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Veranika TSAPKALA, Siarhei DYLEUSKI, Ales BIALIATSKI, Stsiapan PUTSILA, Maria ADAMOVIC, wife of Mikola STATKEVICH, Tatiana KHOMICH - sister of Maryia KALESNIKAVA, Volha KAVALKOVA and remotely Svetlana ALEXIEVICH

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2020: Ceremony with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Veranika TSAPKALA, Siarhei DYLEUSKI, Ales BIALIATSKI, Stsiapan PUTSILA, Maria ADAMOVIC, Tatiana KHOMICH, Volha KAVALKOVA and, remotely, Svetlana ALEXIEVICH

During the plenary session (14-17/12) of the European Parliament in Brussels, the Belarusian Democratic Opposition, represented by several laureates including opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, is awarded the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Extracts from the statements by David SASSOLI, EP President, and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and from the ceremony award.

Sakharov Prize 2020 award: extracts from the ceremony

Award ceremony of the 2020 Sakharov Prize during the plenary session (14-18/12) of the European Parliament, mainly in Brussels. The democratic opposition in Belarus is awarded in a ceremony in the European Parliament, in Brussels. David SASSOLI, EP President, makes the opening statement followed by the statement by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian Democratic Opposition. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2020: opening statements by David SASSOLI, EP President, and Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarussian Democratic Opposition

Statements by Veronika TSAPKALA, Stsiapan PUTSILA, Tatiana KHOMICH, Belarusian democratic opposition and co-laureates of the Sakharov Prize 2020, in the European Parliament in Brussels. The democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by several laureates including opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, will be awarded the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Sakharov Prize 2020: statements by Veronika TSEPKALA, Stsiapan PUTSILA, Tatiana KHOMICH, Belarusian democratic opposition and co-laureates

Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarusian democratic opposition and co-laureate of Sakharov Prize 2020 makes a statement in the European Parliament in Brussels on the meaning of the Sakharov Prize for Belorussian people and her fight for new elections. The democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by several laureates,receives the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Statement by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, Belarusian Democratic Opposition leader, laureate of the Sakharov Prize 2020

Recording of the Videomessage by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of Belarus opposition, ahead of the award ceremony during the plenary session of the European Parliament (14-17 December 2020).

Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2020: Videomessage by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of Belarus opposition, ahead of the award ceremony

David SASSOLI, EP President, pays tribute to Arnauld Joaquín Morazán Erazo, part of the Guapinol environemental group who has been assassinated last week, during the annoucement of the Sakharov Prize 2020, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Tribute by David SASSOLI, EP President to Arnauld Joaquín Morazán Erazo, part of the Guapinol environemental group who has been assassinated last week

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (19-23 October 2020), David SASSOLI, EP President, announces that the 2020 Sakharov Prize is the Democratic opposition in Belarus. After the announcement, David SASSOLI, EP President, pays tribute to Arnauld Joaquín Morazán Erazo, part of the Guapinol environemental group who has been assassinated last week. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Announcement by David SASSOLI, EP President: the Democratic Opposition in Belarus, Sakharov Prize 2020

The EP Conference of Presidents meets to take a decision on the Sakharov Prize 2020 winner, in the European Parliament in Brussels. Arrivals and roundtable.

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents: arrivals and roundtable - decision on the Sakharov Prize 2020 winner

The committees on Foreign Affairs (AFET), on Development (DEVE) and Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) vote on a shortlist of three finalists for the 2020 Sakharov Prize, in the European Parliament in Brussels. The three nominees are: the democratic opposition in Belarus led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Archbishop of Mosul Mgr Najeeb Moussa Michaeel, and the Guapinol activists and Berta Cáceres in Honduras.

Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2020 - Vote on a shortlist of 3 candidates: arrivals, roundtable and statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Chair, by Tomas TOBÉ (EPP,SE), DEVE Chair and Maria ARENA (S&D,BE), DROI Chair

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