María Corina Machado och Edmundo González Urrutia är 2024 års vinnare av Europaparlamentets Sacharovpris för tankefrihet. Sacharovpriset för tankefrihet instiftades 1988 för att hedra människor och organisationer som försvarar mänskliga rättigheter och grundläggande friheter.

Sacharovpriset för tankefrihet 2024

MEPs debate the situation in Venezuela following the abduction of ex-President Nicolás Maduro and the need to ensure a peaceful democratic transition.

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were extracted from Caracas by US soldiers during a pre-dawn raid on 3 January 2026. They were subsequently flown to New York where they are facing court charges, including for narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine to the US, and possession of machine guns. In parallel, President Donald Trump has also announced that Washington will “run Venezuela”, including its oil industry, for the time being.

During the plenary debate, MEPs will assess the situation and are expected to emphasise the need for a swift and peaceful transition to real democracy in Venezuela. In 2024, the European Parliament awarded Venezuelan opposition politicians María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The latter was also recognised as the country’s legitimate president by MEPs in a resolution adopted the same year.

EP Plenary debate on the situation in Venezuela

EP President Metsola awards the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to María Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s democratic forces, and Edmundo González Urrutia, the President-elect of Venezuela. Press conference with EP President Metsola and the laureates takes place after the ceremony, Ahead of the ceremony.

Award of the 2024 Sakharov prize

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announces the winner of this year’s Sakharov Prize 2024 for Freedom of Thought in the hemicycle. The laureate is María Corina Machado as the leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia, representing all Venezuelans fighting for the reinstitution of freedom and democracy from both inside and outside the country;

Named after Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, who agreed to his name being used, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the EU’s highest human rights award.
The Sakharov Prize ceremony will be held on Wednesday 18 December at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. To learn more about the nominees for the 2024 Sakharov Prize, click here.

María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia awarded 2024 Sakharov Prize

On Thursday, the Conference of Presidents (EP President Metsola and political group leaders) will decide on the winner of the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The three shortlisted candidates are:  María Corina Machado, as leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia; Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, academic and anti-corruption activist in Azerbaijan; (Alternative: Elon Musk, USA); and "Women Wage Peace" and "Women of the Sun", Israel/Palestine.

Announcement of the Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate

The Foreign Affairs and Development committees vote to shortlist three finalists for the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. David McAllister, AFET Chair, Barry Andrews, DEVE Chair, and Mounir Satouri, DROI Chair, give statements after the announcement.

The Sakharov Prize is the EU's highest tribute to human rights work, recognizing those who contribute to protecting freedom of thought. The candidates include María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia from Venezuela, Yael Admi and Reem Hajajreh from the “Women Wage Peace” and “Women of the Sun” movement in Israel/Palestine, Elon Musk from the United States, Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu from Azerbaijan, and journalists in Palestine including Hamza and Wael Al-Dahdouh, Plestia Alaqad, Shireen Abu Akleh, and Ain Media. The Conference of Presidents selects the winner on 24 October, and the award ceremony takes place on 18 December in Strasbourg.

Announcement of the 3 finalists for Sakharov Prize 2024

EP Plenary session - Situation in Venezuela

EP Plenary session - Situation in Venezuela following the usurpation of the presidency on 10 January 2025

Sakharov Prize 2024 - Meeting with Venezuelan diaspora

Sakharov Youth Seminar

Civil society organisations meet with the European Parliament’s 2024 Sakharov Prize laureates and finalists

European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought - Roundtable with MEPs

European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought - Media interviews

Sakharov Prize 2024 - Lunch

President Metsola participates in the Munich Security Conference. She exchanges with Edmundo GONZÁLEZ URRUTIA, President-elect of Venezuela and Sakharov Prize laureate 2024 on the situation in Venezuela during a Spotlight Session. The 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) offers an unparalleled platform for high-level debates on the key foreign and security policy challenges of our time.

Munich Security Conference 2025 - Spotlight Session on Venezuela with the participation of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Edmundo GONZÁLEZ URRUTIA, President-elect of Venezuela and Sakharov Prize laureate 2024: opening statements

Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates at the 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich. MSC is the world's leading forum for debating the most pressing challenges to international security. This video includes her arrival and cutaways of her participation to the spolight on Venezuela with Edmundo GONZÁLEZ URRUTIA, President-elect of Venezuela and Sakharov Prize laureate 2024.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates at the Munich Security Conference 2025: atmosphere

On the occasion of the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, Ana Corina Sosa (daughter and representative of María Corina Machado, the 2024 laureate), give a statement on the current situation in Venezuela and the significance of the Sakharov Prize. The award is presented to María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia in recognition of their efforts to restore freedom and democracy in Venezuela. In their pursuit of a fair, free, and peaceful transition of power, they have unwaveringly championed the values that millions of Venezuelans, as well as the European Parliament, hold dear: justice, democracy, and the rule of law.

Award of the 2024 Sakharov Prize: statement by Ana Corina Sosa (daughter and representative of María Corina Machado), Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, María Corina MACHADO, leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela, Edmundo GONZALEZ URRUTIA, Venezuelan President-elect and the Venezuelan opposition movement, Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate hold a press conference .

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, María Corina MACHADO, leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela, Edmundo GONZALEZ URRUTIA, Venezuelan President-elect and the Venezuelan opposition movement, Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate

EP President Metsola awards the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to María Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s democratic forces, and Edmundo González Urrutia, the President-elect of Venezuela. Statements by María Corina MACHADO, leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela, Edmundo GONZALEZ URRUTIA, Venezuelan President-elect and the Venezuelan opposition movement Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Ceremony of the 2024 Sakharov Prize: Statements by María Corina MACHADO, leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela, Edmundo GONZALEZ URRUTIA, Venezuelan President-elect and the Venezuelan opposition movement, Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate

EP President Metsola awards the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to María Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s democratic forces, and Edmundo González Urrutia, the President-elect of Venezuela. Ceremony and hand over of the prize

Ceremony of the 2024 Sakharov Prize: Ceremony and hand over of the prize

EP President Metsola awards the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to María Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s democratic forces, and Edmundo González Urrutia, the President-elect of Venezuela. Ambience shots from the chamber prior to the ceremony. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Ceremony of the 2024 Sakharov Prize: Ambience shots from the chamber prior to the ceremony

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Edmundo GONZÁLEZ URRUTIA, Venezuelan President-elect, Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate and Ana Corina SOSA (daughter and representative of María CORINA MACHADO), Sakharov Prize 2024 laureate, followed by the Sakharov 2024 Prize ceremony. This news item shows extracts from the meeting between President Metsola and Sakharov 2024 laureates; and extracts from the ceremony of the Sakharov Prize 2024.

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2024 (T)

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