Alexei Navalny, who a few days ago was transferred to the category of “extremists and terrorists” in a prison colony, where he is serving a contested sentence, is among the three finalists for this year’s Human Rights Award, named after his compatriot Andrei Sakharov.
“This nomination recognizes and underscores the efforts of courageous people to fight for democratic governance, the rule of law, civil liberties and corruption,” said German MEP David McAllister when announcing the names.
The decision on who will be this year’s Sakharov winner will be announced next week on October 20th. This will be done by the President of the European Parliament and the leaders of the political groups of MEPs, who will choose the finalist. The award ceremony is scheduled for December 15 in the plenary hall of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The Women of Afghanistan have also been nominated in the form of a group supported by the European Parliament for their protection of women’s rights and fundamental human rights not only in their country but also around the world.
The third nomination is for Janine Anier, the former interim president of Bolivia, who is currently in prison and has become a symbol of repression against the opposition and deprivation of a fair trial in Latin America.
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was established in 1988 in honor of individuals and organizations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms, and has a prize of 50,000 euros. Last year, the democratic opposition in Belarus received it in the form of the Coordination Council, set up at the initiative of a group of brave women and civil society activists following the scandalous violence that followed the country’s presidential election.
Photo: The names of the finalists were announced by a German MEP from the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee © multimedia.europarl.europa.eu
