The European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize to the Ukrainian people. The award is the highest honor the EU bestows on people who defend 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. For all those who stand up and fight for what they believe in. I know the brave people of the Ukraine will not give up and neither will we “, said the President of the Parliament Roberta Metsola at the announcement.
Other nominees for the award were WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and the Colombian Truth Commission. The accompanying prize will be presented on 14 December in Strasbourg.
Member of the European Parliament Thijs Reuten (PvdA) was one of the initiators of the appointment of the Ukrainian population. “Many will remain nameless and unknown, 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,” said Reuten.
The winner of the prize will receive € 50,000. This money will be distributed among representatives of the Ukrainian population, writes the news agency Reuters. These include humanitarian organizations, a human rights lawyer and the mayor of Russian-occupied Melitopol.
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 went to detained Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. His daughter came in his place to receive the prize.
