Ukrainian people awarded the European Parliament’s 2022 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought
Members of the European Parliament have awarded the brave people of Ukraine, represented by their president, elected leaders, and civil society, the 2022 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
“This award is for those Ukrainians fighting on the ground. For those who have been forced to flee. For those who have lost relatives and friends. For all those who stand up and fight for what they believe in. I know that the brave people of Ukraine will not give up and neither will we,” said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
According to the official statement, the nomination highlights the efforts of Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, together with the role of individuals, representatives of civil society initiatives, and state and public institutions, including the State Emergency Services of Ukraine, Yulia Pajevska, founder of the evacuation medical unit Angels of Taira, Oleksandra Matviychuk, human rights lawyer and chairwoman of the organization Center for Civil Liberties, the Yellow Ribbon Civil Resistance Movement, and Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of the Ukrainian city of Melitopol, which is currently under Russian occupation.
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded each year by the European Parliament. It was set up in 1988 to honor individuals and organizations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. It is named in honor of Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov.
