Sakharov Prize 2024: Venezuela celebrates the courage of the opposition against Maduro!

Sakharov Prize 2024: Venezuela celebrates the courage of the opposition against Maduro!

On December 17, 2024, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was awarded at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, and the Venezuelan opposition figures María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia were recognized as laureates. This award recognizes her tireless efforts to restore freedom and democracy in Venezuela, a country affected by severe repression under the regime of Nicolás Maduro. Andreas Schieder, head of the SPÖ delegation, emphasized the importance of the award winners and their courageous fight against authoritarian violence, which has cost numerous people their lives and freedom. In this context, Schieder said: “We stand on the side of the people of Venezuela who oppose authoritarianism and fight for freedom and democracy.” OTM reported.

Symbolic meaning of the Sakharov Prize

The Sakharov Prize, which comes with prize money of 50,000 euros and is awarded annually in December, is considered the EU's most important human rights prize. This year, in addition to the Venezuelan prize winners, Dr. Qubad İbadoğlu from Azerbaijan and the women's movements “Women Wage Peace” and “Women of the Sun” from Israel and Palestine, who can also be recognized for their contributions to peace and democracy. María Corina Machado, who won the democratic opposition primaries in 2023, was arbitrarily disqualified by the government ahead of the July 2024 presidential election, leading to widespread repression. Amid political persecution and threats to her life, she was forced into hiding while Edmundo González Urrutia was recognized as the legitimate president of Venezuela after the European Parliament confirmed his status in September 2024, as europa.eu reported.