Russian opposition politician and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny is awarded the 2021 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in a ceremony during the plenary session in Strasbourg. Ambiance shots prior to the ceremony and opening statement by David SASSOLI, EP President. This transcript is a result àof an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

plenary session

ceremony

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

NAVALNY, Alexei (RU)

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2021 (T)

NAVALNAYA, Daria

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2021: ambiance shots prior to the ceremony and opening statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

Arrivals of David SASSOLI, EP President and Daria NAVALNAYA, daughter of Alexei Navalny to the emicycle

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Ladies and gentlemen, honourable colleagues, 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 with great bitterness Alexei Navalny cannot be with us today because he's unjustly being held in a prison of the Russian Federation.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, But that Daria Navalnaya, who is the daughter of Alexei Navalny, is here with us today. She is here to represent him. Together with the head of cabinet, Leonid Volkov and the press attache of Alexei Navalny. On behalf of all of you, we would like to express our welcome to you and to thank you for being here with us today.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, But I would like to ask you to take a look at a video dedicated to the Sakharov laureate of this year.