STRASBOURG, France — The European Union’s legislature on Tuesday celebrated the bravery and staunch resistance of Venezuelan opposition leaders Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia whereas awarding them the EU’s prime human rights honor, the Sakharov Prize.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola stated it was “in recognition of your tireless efforts to revive freedom and democracy in Venezuela and guarantee a good, free and peaceable transition of energy — risking every thing for the values that tens of millions of Venezuelans and this parliament maintain so pricey.”
Machado was set to run towards the incumbent president, Nicolás Maduro, in Venezuela’s election this 12 months, however the authorities disqualified her. González took her place. He had by no means run for workplace earlier than.
The lead-up to the election noticed widespread repression together with disqualifications, arrests and human rights violations. Machado went into hiding, fearing for her life. A Venezuelan court docket issued an arrest warrant for González, who moved to Spain and was granted asylum.
“We face a regime which has critically undermined human rights democratic establishments and the system of freedom,” González informed the EU legislators.
Maduro’s victory was contested by impartial observers together with the United Nations. In a decision final month, the EU parliament acknowledged González as Venezuela’s legit president.
The EU award, named after Soviet dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honor people or teams who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. The winner is chosen by senior EU lawmakers from amongst candidates nominated by the European Parliament’s numerous political teams. The meeting says the award is “the very best tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work.”
A number of laureates, together with Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
“This prize carries with it a wealthy historic legacy,” González stated.
The annual award additionally carries a 50,000-euro ($54,000) endowment.
