The “brave people of Ukraine”, represented by President Volodymyr Zelensky, other elected leaders and civil society, are the winners of the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
The announcement was made this afternoon by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, after a meeting of the leaders of the European parliamentary groups.
“They stand up for what they believe in. Fighting for our values. Protecting democracy, freedom and the rule of law. They risk their lives for us.” Metsola wrote on Twitter that the “brave people of Ukraine” are today the “proud winner” of the Sakharov Prize. “Nobody deserves more”, added.
“The prize is for Ukrainians who fight on the ground. For those who had to flee. For those who have lost family and friends. For all who stand up and fight for what they believe in. I know the brave people of Ukraine do not give up and neither do we”said Metsola.
The Ukrainian people and their representatives were nominated by the European People’s Party (the largest in the Chamber), the Socialists and Democrats, Renew Europe and the European Reformers and Conservatives.
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will be delivered on December 14, during the plenary session in Strasbourg. Last year the winner was the Russian opponent Alexei Navalny.
The other two finalists were the Colombia Truth Commission and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange..
The commission, appointed by the Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left, was established under the 2016 peace agreement in Colombia, with the aim of establishing the facts about human rights violations during the conflict and defending the rights of millions of victims.
Assange, appointed by a group of 41 MPs, is being held in the UK, at risk of being extradited to the US and tried for espionage and computer crime.
The three finalists were selected on the 13th by the Development Committees of Foreign Affairs and the EP.
Zelensky thanks Sakharov Prize and confirms commitment to “freedom and democracy”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday welcomed the award of the 2022 Sakharov Prize to the “courageous” Ukrainian people and noted their “commitment to the values of freedom and democracy against the terrorist state of the Russian Federation”.
“I congratulate the European Parliament and the President of the European Parliament on awarding the Sakharov Prize to the people of Ukraine,” Zelensky said in a message on the social network Twitter.
Grateful for @Europarl_EN, @EP_President for awarding the Sakharov Prize to the people. Ukrainians every day prove commitment to the values of freedom, democracy on the battlefield against the terrorist state of the RF. On this path, the support of the nations is very important for .
– олодимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 19, 2022
“Ukrainians have shown daily on the battlefield their commitment to the values of freedom and democracy against the terrorist state of the Russian Federation. In this way, the support of the countries of the European Union (EU) is very important for Ukraine,” he concluded. . in the short message.
Josep Borrell: Sakharov Prize is “tribute to the determination and courage” of the people
Josep Borrell, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Policy, responded on Wednesday to the award of the 2022 Sakharov Prize to the “courageous Ukrainian people” and said it was “a tribute to their determination, courage and resistance”.
“The brave people of Ukraine make sacrifices every day to defend their freedom – and ours,” Borrell wrote on the social network Twitter, referring to the Prize for Freedom of Thought, created in 1985 and since 1988 is awarded annually by the European Parliament. to honor people or organizations who devote their lives or actions to the defense of human rights and freedom.
The brave people of Ukraine make sacrifices every day to defend their freedom – and ours. We must continue to support them until Ukraine is victorious.
these years #Sakharov Prize awarded by the @Europarl_EN is a tribute to their determination, courage and resilience.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) October 19, 2022
“We must continue to support him until Ukraine wins” [a guerra contra a Rússia]who invaded its territory, annexed parts of it, tortured and killed its citizens and forcibly transported them into Russian territory, the head of EU diplomacy added.
Borrell’s reaction was followed, also on Twitter, by that of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, who also welcomed the award of the Ukrainian people with the prize worth 50,000 euros. , named after Russian physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov.
“Congratulations to the people of Ukraine, represented by its President Volodymyr Zelensky. Their spirit and determination to fight for the values we hold dear is an inspiration to all of us. The EU supports the brave Ukrainian people. Now and for as long as possible . necessary,” wrote Ursula von der Leyen.
Congratulations to the people of Ukraine represented by their president @ZelenskyyUa
Their spirit and determination to fight for the values we hold dear is an inspiration to all of us.
The EU stands behind the brave Ukrainian people.
Now and as long as it takes. https://t.co/SIsnULZh2m
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 19, 2022
Charles Michel stressed that this year’s awarding of the Sakharov Prize to the Ukrainian people is “a new recognition of their courage and their fight for freedom, democracy and the inalienable values of the EU”.
The #Sakharov Prize to the people of #Ukraine is another recognition of their courage and their fight for freedom, democracy and the inalienable values of the EU.
Bee #EUCO we will focus on continuing our help; we will support Ukraine as long as it is necessary.
Slava Ukraine pic.twitter.com/wc8YwyaZMt
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) October 19, 2022
“During the European Council, we will focus on continuing to provide aid; we will support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Michel wrote, ending with the historic phrase “Slava Ukraini (Glory to Ukraine)”.
with Lusa
Source: DN
