Venezuela's opposition awarded Sakharov Prize for championing human rights
European Parliament rewards courage of student activists and protesters in face of repression by Nicolas Maduro's government
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The democratic opposition and political prisoners in Venezuela have won the European Union's Sakharov Prize for human rights.
The European Parliament said it wanted to reward the courage of students and politicians fighting for freedom in the face of a repressive government.
Guy Verhofstadt of the ALDE liberal group said: “This award supports the fight of democratic forces for a democratic Venezuela.”
He urged “the international community to join us in this fight for the freedom of the people of Venezuela”.
The Venezuelan laureates follow the footsteps of last year's winners, two Yazidi women who escaped sexual enslavement by Isis group.
The award, named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honour individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Other finalists this year included a Pakistani Christian woman who has been on death row for six years, a human rights defender in Guatemala, two pro-Kurdish prisoners in Turkey, a Swedish-Eritrean playwright long held in Eritrea and a Burundian human rights activist.
PA
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments