el flag go to the original language article
This article has been translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The news agency is not responsible for the content of the translated article. The original was published by AMNA.

The head of the opposition in Venezuela Machado and its presidential candidate Urrutia were honored with the Sakharov Prize

by AI | 25.Oct 2024 | Europe in brief AI

“`html With the Sakharov Prize, the highest distinction of the European Union for Human Rights, María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia, the opposition leader in Venezuela and her candidate […]

“`html

With the Sakharov Prize, the highest distinction of the European Union for Human Rights, María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia, the opposition leader in Venezuela and her candidate in the July presidential elections, were honored.
“Edmundo and María continued to fight for a free, fair, and peaceful transition of power and fearlessly defended the values that are so dear to millions of Venezuelans and this Parliament: justice, democracy, and the rule of law,” said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
“The Parliament stands with the people of Venezuela and with María and Edmundo in their struggle for the democratic future of their country,” she added. “We are convinced that Venezuela and democracy will prevail in the end.”
Following the controversial re-election of President Nicolás Maduro, 75-year-old Edmundo González Urrutia took refuge in Spain, and 56-year-old María Corina Machado lives underground.
The two opposition figures had been proposed by the European People’s Party (right-wing, the first political force in the European Parliament).
The French delegation of the Socialist and Democrats group, which had proposed awarding the prize to the Israeli organization “Women Wage Peace” and the Palestinian organization “Women of the Sun” who work together for peace in the Middle East, spoke of “a missed opportunity to promote peace and reconciliation” in the Middle East.
The third finalist this year was Gubad Ibadoghlu, an economist and activist detained in Azerbaijan.
The European far-right, which includes the Patriots group led by Jordan Bardella of the French National Rally party of Marine Le Pen, had proposed, unsuccessfully, to award the prize to billionaire Elon Musk for his contribution to “freedom of expression.”
The Sakharov Prize is awarded annually to individuals and organizations defending Human Rights and fundamental freedoms. The prize, accompanied by a monetary award of 50,000 euros, bears the name of Soviet dissident and nuclear physicist Andrei Sakharov, who was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975.

“`