The people of Ukraine were awarded the annual Sakharov prize by the Europian Parliament for displaying Freedom of thought in their ardent fight against Russia’s sudden invasion of Ukraine.
This prize is awarded in 1988 to organizations and individuals who fight for human rights and basic fundamental rights. This prize is named after a soviet dissident and physicist Andrei Sakharov who was the torchbearer of basic human rights. This prize is given by the Europian parliament every year and it carries an amount of 50,000 euros as prize money.
This prize money will be distributed among Ukrainian civil citizens this time. A famous musician remarked that’ The Ukrainians are in the center point of the world as their fight for democracy has set an example of what a democratic society should be.’ The continuous struggle for months in an attempt to preserve the morals of basic rights and democracy the people of Ukraine have stood up for their beliefs and have fought for the values of democracy, freedom, and rule of law, risking their lives in the process.
The president of the European parliament Robert Metsola appreciated the hard efforts of the people of Ukraine and did the announcements in the Strasbourg plenary chamber following the decisions of Parliaments’ Conference of Presidents (the president and political group leaders)
More about the EU’s Sakharov freedom prize
The Sakharov prize for freedom of thought also known as the Sakharov prize is an honorary award that rewards the people or groups who dedicate their lives to the defense of human rights and freedom of thought. The first to be awarded were two notable leaders Nelson Mandela, the south African apartheid fighter, and Russian Anatoly Marchenko. Aung San Suu Kyi was also awarded this prize in 1990 but due to her political imprisonment, she could not receive it till 2013 due to internal tensions in Myanmar.
In 2021 the Sakharov prize was rewarded to a jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny for his rigorous efforts to challenge Russian President Vladimir Putin to control his grip on power. The Pakistani education activist Malala Yousofzai was also honored with this award.
This is a wonderful attempt to honor the freedom fighters and those who raise their voice against the autocratic society, rewards such as these do encourage people to fight for a cause and make other people aware of their rights and facilities. The people of Ukraine have received the attention of the World. Their struggle to remain an independent democracy and achieve the pinnacle of freedom has been witnessed by the world. Their courage to rise again fight back and despite a scarcity of resources not bow down in front of the autocratic notions of Russia is commendable and deserves immense respect.
This wonderful initiative of the European government is worth applauding which has encouraged the people of Ukraine to fight back and uphold their values of democracy and freedom. Such initiatives other than the noble prize have been instrumental in the rise of new leaders and the cultivation of values of fundamental rights of freedom and liberty.
