This year, the EU Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize for Democracy and Human Rights to the Ukrainian people. Imprisoned Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and the Colombian Truth Commission were also nominated for the award.
The Ukrainian people are receiving the award for their current struggle and suffering, parliament speaker Roberta Metsola said in Strasbourg on Wednesday (see video above). It is represented by its president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and civil society.
50,000 euros prize money
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought (also known as the EU Human Rights Prize) has been awarded annually by the European Parliament since 1988. It is named after the Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov of the former Soviet Union and is endowed with 50,000 euros.
Notable award winners include former South African president Nelson Mandela (1988), Reporters Without Borders (2005), Pakistani children’s rights activist Malala Yousafzai (2013) and last year opposition and anti-corruption activist Alexei Anatolyevich Navalny (2021).
In September of each year, representatives of the EU Parliament agree on a shortlist. This time, imprisoned Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and the Colombian Truth Commission were among them. The prize is usually awarded in December in Strasbourg.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
