Alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, award highlights a number of Ukrainians fighting to defend human rights.
Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The people of Ukraine, represented by their president, elected leaders and civil society, have been awarded the 2022 European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
In a laudatory speech Wednesday afternoon, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “This award is for those Ukrainians fighting on the ground. For those who have been forced to flee. For those who have lost relatives and friends. For all those who stand up and fight for what they believe in. I know that the brave people of Ukraine will not give up and neither will we.”
Alongside with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the nomination highlights the efforts of a number of Ukrainians: The state emergency services of Ukraine; Yulia Pajevska, the founder of the evacuation medical unit Angels of Taira; Oleksandra Matviychuk, human rights lawyer and chairwoman of the organization Center for Civil Liberties; the Yellow Ribbon Civil Resistance Movement; and Ivan Fedorov, mayor of the city of Melitopol.
The price will officially be awarded in a ceremony on December 14 in Strasbourg.
European Parliament member Stéphane Séjourné for Brussels Morning said “Who else but the Ukrainian people has given so much to democratic values in our time?” of the EU’s annual human rights prize, which recognizes individuals and organizations defending fundamental freedoms.
He noted that this award is an obvious recognition of the exceptional sacrifices of civil society and the courage of the Ukrainian political class.
”The Renew Europe Group is proud to have supported this nomination.” said the MEP.
What is the Sakharov Prize?
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is named after the late Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, It has been awarded annually since 1988 to individuals and organizations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The prize comes with a cash prize of €50,000 (almost $49,000), which will be given to members of Ukrainian civil society.
Last year, the award was given to Russian dissident and Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
Past recipients have included South African President Nelson Mandela, Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai and Belarus’ democratic opposition.
