Sakharov Prize Awarded to Venezuelan opposition
The European Parliament has announced that Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia are the recipients of the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
Machado, a prominent opposition leader, and Gonzalez Urrutia, her party's presidential candidate in the July elections, were recognized for their efforts to restore freedom and democracy in Venezuela.
The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, announced the winners following a meeting of political group leaders. In her statement, she commended Machado and Gonzalez Urrutia for their "courageous fight to restore freedom and democracy in Venezuela." She emphasised their commitment to the values of justice, democracy, and the rule of law during their campaign to ensure a fair, free, and peaceful transition of power.
"The European Parliament stands with the Venezuelan people and with María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia in their fight for a democratic future for their country," Metsola stated. "The Sakharov Prize is theirs.”
The award comes after a contested presidential election in July. While the opposition's vote count indicated a landslide victory for Gonzalez Urrutia, the national electoral commission declared incumbent President Nicolás Maduro the winner. Machado remains in hiding, while Gonzalez Urrutia has fled to Spain, where he was granted political asylum on September 7.
The Sakharov Prize, the European Union's highest award for human rights, is named after Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov. Established in 1988, the prize is awarded annually by the Parliament to individuals or organisations who have distinguished themselves through their work in the following areas: defending human rights and fundamental freedoms, particularly freedom of expression; protecting minority rights; upholding international law; promoting democracy; and advocating for the rule of law.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
