The European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize to the people of Ukraine. This award is the highest honor bestowed by the European Union on individuals who stand up for human rights.
“This award is for the Ukrainians who are fighting on the ground. For those who have had to flee. For those who have lost relatives and friends. To all who stand up and fight for what they believe in. I know the brave people Ukraine will not surrender and neither do we,” said Parliament Speaker Roberta Mitsula in the declaration. “.
Other nominees for the award are Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks and the Colombian Truth Commission. The accompanying award will be presented on December 14 in Strasbourg.
MEP Thys Rotten (PvdA) was one of the initiators of the candidacy of the Ukrainian population. “Many will remain nameless and anonymous, but each of them makes an indispensable contribution to the defense of Ukraine and the protection of peace, democracy and human rights on the European continent,” Ryutin said.
The prize winner will receive 50,000 euros. The news agency wrote that this money will be distributed to representatives of the Ukrainian people Reuters. They include aid organizations, human rights lawyers, and the mayor of the Russian-occupied Melitopol municipality.
The Sakharov Prize is awarded annually. The prize is named after Soviet dissident and Nobel laureate Andrei Sakharov and has been awarded since 1988. Last year, the prize was awarded to detained Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. His daughter came in his place to receive the award.
