Today, the main human rights award of the European Union - the Sakharov Prize - was awarded to the Ukrainian people and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to a video broadcast of the award ceremony.
President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola addressed the ceremony and passed the floor to Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the video address, the President of Ukraine recalled the crimes of Russia in Mariupol and called to honour the memory of all the victims.
"The award goes to the brave Ukrainian people, represented by the President of the country, elected leaders and civil society," it was stated during the broadcast.
Paramedic Yuliya Payevska, Head of the Civil Liberties Centre Oleksandra Matviychuk, Mayor of occupied Melitopol Ivan Fedorov received awards on behalf of the Ukrainian people.
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded for an exceptional contribution to the struggle for freedom of thought and human rights in the world. In 2018, the Sakharov Prize was awarded to the film director Oleg Sentsov, who was then held in a Russian prison. For the first time in the history of the prize the award was given to a Ukrainian.
