This year the EU Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize for Democracy and Human Rights to the Ukrainian people. “This award is for Ukrainians who are fighting in their country. For those who were forced to flee. For those who have lost family and friends. For everyone who stands up and fights for what they believe in,” said Parliament Speaker Roberta Metsola in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
“I know the brave people of Ukraine will not give up and neither will we,” Metsola said. The deputies argued that “Russia’s war of unprovoked aggression against Ukraine is causing enormous costs to the Ukrainian people”. The Ukrainian people not only fight to protect their homeland, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, but also defend European values, freedom, democracy and the rule of law “from a brutal regime that undermines our democracy and weakens our Union and wants to divide”.
The appointment commended Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his bravery, perseverance and devotion to his people. Individuals, representatives of civil society initiatives and state and public institutions are also nominated, including the State Emergency Medical Service (SES) of Ukraine, the founder of the medical evacuation unit “Tairas Engel”, Julia Pajewska, and the resistance “Yellow Band”.
“Clear Signal” Against War
Austrian MEPs called the award a “clear signal” against the war. The European Parliament shows “once again that it is on the side of peace”, said the vice-president of the European Parliament’s Commission on Human Rights, Christian Sagartz (ÖVP). “Ukrainians do extraordinary things every day to defend themselves against Russia’s brutal war of aggression. In doing so, they are not only fighting for their motherland and independence, but also for European values such as freedom, democracy and government. of law.”
Theresa Muigg, SPÖ MP and Human Rights Committee member, also called the “unprovoked attack” a “direct attack on fundamental rights and democracy in the EU”. Therefore, the delivery of the EU Human Rights Prize is “also a strong signal against authoritarianism in Europe”.
For Lukas Mandl, foreign policy spokesperson for the ÖVP in the European Parliament, this year’s Sakharov Prize recognizes “the commitment to freedom and peace and must also give visibility to the victims”.
Arrested Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and the Colombian Truth Commission were also nominated for the award. (apa)