Venezuelan Opposition Leaders Receive EU's Freedom of Thought Prize

Photo : AFP

The European Parliament has announced that the prestigious 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will be awarded to María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia. This recognition is for their relentless efforts to restore democracy and freedom in Venezuela, as stated in a recent release from the committee. The announcement was made by Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Thursday, following a decision by the Conference of Presidents.

In her statement, Metsola praised the two leaders for their courageous battle to bring about change in Venezuela. "The 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded to María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia for their brave fight to restore freedom and democracy in Venezuela. In their quest for a fair, free, and peaceful transition of power, they have fearlessly upheld values that millions of Venezuelans and the European Parliament hold so dear: justice, democracy, and the rule of law," she said.

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The award ceremony is scheduled for December 18 in Strasbourg, coinciding with the European Parliament's plenary session.

Named after the Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the European Union's highest accolade for human rights. Established in 1988, the prize recognizes individuals or organizations that advocate for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Notable past recipients include former South African President Nelson Mandela and late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

In 2023, the prize was awarded posthumously to Jina Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman who died in custody after being arrested for allegedly violating Iran's strict hijab laws. Her death sparked widespread protests in Iran, particularly led by women advocating for their rights.

María Corina Machado was elected as the opposition's presidential candidate in 2023 under the ‘Unity Democratic Platform’ but was subsequently barred from running by the regime-controlled National Electoral Council. Edmundo González Urrutia, a diplomat and politician, stepped in as the opposition candidate. Following the election, he contested the government’s declaration of Nicolás Maduro’s victory, accusing the regime of electoral fraud and withholding official results.

After the election, Venezuelan authorities reportedly arrested approximately 2,400 individuals during protests, with non-governmental organizations reporting at least 24 deaths. Following these events, González Urrutia fled Venezuela in September after an arrest warrant was issued against him and was granted political asylum in Spain. Meanwhile, María Corina Machado remains in hiding due to the oppressive political climate.

The European Parliament has been a vocal critic of the Venezuelan regime. On September 19, 2024, it passed a resolution denouncing the presidential election in Venezuela, stating that it did not meet international standards for electoral integrity. The resolution recognized González Urrutia as the legitimate, democratically elected president of Venezuela and acknowledged Machado as the leader of the country's democratic forces.

Additionally, the European Parliament condemned the Venezuelan government for its electoral fraud and widespread human rights violations against opposition figures, civil society members, and demonstrators. In its September 2024 resolution, the Parliament urged the EU to maintain sanctions against Maduro's government and called for further targeted sanctions through the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against Nicolás Maduro and his close associates.

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