EU Parliament presents Venezuelan opposition with human rights award

The European Parliament presented Venezuelan opposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo González with the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on Tuesday.

Accepting the award in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, González said that it was important to continue the fight to restore democracy to Venezuela.

“The work done by the international community is ongoing, tireless. But we still need more,” González said, thanking the EU legislative chamber for their support.

Machado was not permitted to stand in the disputed July presidential elections as she has for years been banned from holding public office in her country.

González stood in her stead before fleeing to Spain after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He is widely believed to have beaten President Nicolás Maduro, who refused to stand aside.

There have been protests all round the world in response to Maduro’s election, in which detailed results were never presented.

Finalists for the 2024 human rights award included two Middle East peace associations and Azerbaijani anti-corruption activist Gubad Ibadoghlu.

While González was presented with the award in person, Machado’s daughter Ana Corina Sosa attended the ceremony on behalf of her mother.

Last year’s Sakharov Prize was awarded to Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody, and the Iranian women’s protest movement that followed her death.

First awarded in 1988, the prize is named after Soviet nuclear physicist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov.

Sakharov Prize winner Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia (C), European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (R) and Ana Corina Sosa, the daughter of Sakharov Prize winner M. C. Machado, who was not present in person, react during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strassbourg. The Venezuelan opposition has been awarded the Sakharov Prize on the second day of December's plenary session. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa — Sakharov Prize winner Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia (C), European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (R) and Ana Corina Sosa, the daughter of Sakharov Prize winner M. C. Machado, who was not present in person, react during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strassbourg. The Venezuelan opposition has been awarded the Sakharov Prize on the second day of December’s plenary session. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa

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