this European Union willing to support Ukraine by land, sea and air and recognize the courage of the Ukrainian people In his fight against Russia and the war that Vladimir Putin started eight months ago. The last European institution to do so, this Wednesday, most European Parliament 2022 Sakharov Awarded the Freedom of Thought Award. This year’s edition was the biggest favourite, and the big chamber groups had no doubt that 2022 was the year to honor the Ukrainian people. It is a political rather than symbolic decision, representing a new rejection and condemnation of the aggression launched by the Putin regime on February 24.
The Ukrainian people are fighting to protect their home, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, but they are also fighting every day on the battlefields for freedom, democracy, rule of law and European values. It is not yet clear whether Ukraine’s president Volodímir Zelenski will personally receive the award at the traditional ceremony at the last plenary of the year in Strasbourg.
Established in 1988, the Sakharov Prize aims to distinguish exceptional individuals and organizations that defend human rights. and fundamental freedoms. Last year, the award was given to Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny for the Kremlin’s fight against corruption and human rights abuses, but many have received the award. The first, as soon as it was created, was Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa. Since then, the Plaza de Mayo Mothers have also received this recognition, Ibrahim Rugova, the first president of Kosovo; Spanish Basta Ya movement, Cuban activist Oswaldo Payá, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Anan, Women in White, Belarusian association of journalists, Pakistani Malala Yousafzai, Mongolian doctor Denis Mukwege or the Belarusian opposition in 2020, among others.
The proposal of the social democratic group
Political groups or groups of at least 40 MPs will be able to nominate candidates this year. In this year’s edition, the EPP chose to nominate the “brave Ukrainian people represented by President Volodymyr Zelensky”, the Social Democratic group proposed to the Ukrainian people, while the European Conservatives and Reformists proposed directly rewarding President Zelensky. Sonia Guajajara of the Greens and Wikileaks activist Julian Assange (proposed by Sabrina Pignedoli MEP and 40 other MEPs) and Shireen Abu Akleh of the truth commission in Colombia, which promoted reconciliation of the country after the end of a sixty-year conflict proposed by the Left in 2016. (Recommended by Grace O’Sullivan and 42 other MEPs).