Unsurprisingly, the Belarusian democratic opposition – supported by the EPP, S&D, Renew Europe and ECR groups – won the European Parliament’s 2020 Sakharov Prize.
The prize was specifically awarded: - to the Coordinating Council, for “an initiative launched by courageous women”, opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, Nobel Prize winner Svetlana Aleksievich, musician and activist Maria Kolesnikova and political activists Volha Kavalkova and Veranika Tsapkala; - and representatives of civil society and the political world: the video director and political prisoner Siarhiei Tsikhanowski, the founder of the Belarusian human rights organisation Viasna, Alès Bialiatski, the strike leader Siarhei Dyleuski, the founder of the Telegram NEXTA channel, Stsiapan Putsila, and political prisoner Mikalaï Statkiévitch.
The prize will be officially presented to them on 16 December 2020.
“The mass demonstrations in Belarus have moved the world for eleven weeks now”, said the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, regarding the announcement of the victory of the Belarusian democratic opposition. “Congratulations to the people for their courage, resilience and determination. This represents the very definition of freedom of thought and freedom of expression, which the Sakharov Prize supports”, added Mr Sassoli, also calling on Belarusians to continue to be strong and not to give up the fight. The European Parliament remains on their side.
“Each of the nominees represents thousands of demonstrators”, said German Michael Gahler. According to the EPP group representative, by awarding the prize, the European Parliament wanted to show its “respect for the resistance shown to Lukashenko’s dictatorship” and to confirm its “recognition of the Coordinating Council as the legitimate representative of Belarusians”. Believing in “the common wisdom of the people”, Anna Fotyga (ECR, Poland) believes that, “if people want freedom and are committed to it, the only thing to do is to support them and help them”.
“The European Parliament stands united behind the strength and courage of the Belarusian people in their fight for freedom and resistance against the last dictatorship on our continent”, added Dacian Cioloș (Renew Europe, Romania).
Political groups have also highlighted the role of women in this movement. “The face of freedom in Belarus is female. (Belarusian women) all have our greatest support and admiration”, said Kati Piri (S&D, Netherlands). “This movement, which has been led peacefully and predominantly by women, is at the forefront of the struggle against a brutal dictatorship and shows exemplary bravery in defence of freedom and justice”, added the Greens/EFA group on Twitter.
Tribute to the Guapinol movement. Furthermore, when announcing the prize, Mr Sassoli paid tribute to Arnold Joaquín Morazán Erazo, who was assassinated in mid-October (see EUROPE 12582/29). He was a member of the environmentalist group Guapinol, which, together with Berta Cáceres, was a finalist for the 2020 Sakharov Prize, and who had been proposed by the Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL groups.
Mr Sassoli called for an immediate, independent and credible investigation into the murder of Erazo – who had opposed an iron oxide mine in Honduras – to ensure accountability.
The third finalist, proposed by the Identity and Democracy group, and was Monsignor Najeeb Michaeel, Archbishop of Mosul.
The President of the European Parliament said that “in Belarus, Honduras, Iraq – everywhere in the world – no one should be prosecuted for expressing their opinions”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)