María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia, 2024 Sakharov Prize “for their brave fight to restore freedom and democracy in Venezuela”

This Thursday the European Union rewarded the work of the Venezuelan opposition. Leader of the Venezuelan democratic forces, Maria Corina Machadoand opposition candidates in the July presidential elections, Edmundo Gonzalez, will receive Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Conscience For their fight to restore Democracy in Nicolas Maduro’s Venezuela.

The President of Parliament, Roberta Metsola, has been in charge announce winners González Urrutia and Machado received the support of the heads of most of the political groups of the European Parliament meeting behind closed doors in Strasbourg (France). “The 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Conscience is awarded to María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia. For their brave fight to restore independence And democracy in Venezuela. In their efforts for a just, free and peaceful political transition, they have fearlessly defended the values ​​that millions of Venezuelans and the European Parliament hold so dear: justice, democracy and the rule of law. The Parliament supports the Venezuelan people, María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia in the fight for their country’s democratic future. This award is for them,” President Metsola announced.

In a message sent to EFE, Edmundo said Grateful for “solidarity” The European Union stands with the Venezuelan people and emphasizes that “The fight continues” Because “the regime is engaged in blocking political change, and is spending more and more more human rights violations and crimes against humanity in Venezuela.

“Above anything else, this award a symbol of deep unity The people of Europe stand with the Venezuelan people in their fight for the restoration of democracy,” he assured.

This is the second time the Venezuelan opposition has won this award after holding the presidency of the National Assembly. Julio Borges and political prisonersFurthermore, in September the European Parliament approved a symbolic resolution Recognize Gonzalez UrrutiaWho has received political asylum in Spain since September 7 as the legitimate elected President of Venezuela.

In a resolution adopted on September 19, 2024, MEPs highlighted that the International Electoral Observation Mission in Venezuela this July he made it clear that presidential election They did not respect international standards Of electoral integrity. They recognized Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate, democratically elected president and María Corina Machado as the leader of democratic forces.

Other than this, The EU Parliament also condemned “electoral fraud”.as well as serious and systematic human rights violations against the democratic opposition, the Venezuelan people, and civil society. In a September 2024 resolution, the Parliament called on the EU to enhance and expand sanctions against the Venezuelan regime, to include specific measures against Nicolás Maduro and his inner circle through the Union’s sanctions regime on human rights issues . Ahead of the elections, the European Parliament had already urged member states to maintain restrictions on the regime and criticized the unconstitutional decision to bar opposition figures such as Maria Corina Machado from running in the July elections.

In a first reaction from the Venezuelan opposition in exile, Antonio Ledezma, former mayor of Caracas and spokesman for María Corina Machado in Madrid, has insisted that the award is for “the Venezuelan people”.

As he said, All these honors are for the Venezuelan peopleIt is a balm of hope and relief for those abused children, for political prisoners, for victims of murders, for the brave witnesses at the table who have been tormented by the dictatorship today and for the millions of broken families. The result of the Indian diaspora around the world,” Ledezma said in his account on X.

Machado was elected presidential candidate in 2023 by the Venezuelan opposition, part of the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD). However, he was disqualified by the regime-controlled National Electoral Council. Then came the time of diplomat and politician González Urrutia, who replaced him as the PUD candidate. After denouncing the fact that official data Election on 28th JulyGonzález Urrutia protested the declaration of victory and left the country After an arrest warrant was issued for him in September. Meanwhile, Maria Corina Machado remains in hiding. According to the Venezuelan government, 2,400 people were arrested during post-election protests. NGOs have reported the death of 24 people during the protests.

Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez He will receive the award on December 18 In Strasbourg, a solemn ceremony takes place in the chamber during a plenary session of the Parliament where the laureates or their direct representatives usually participate. Created in 1988, the Sakharov Prize, worth 50,000 euros, recognizes the work of individuals, groups and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the protection of freedom of thought: the defense of human rights and fundamental rights, especially freedom of expression, minority protection of rights, respect for international law, development of democracy and defense of the rule of law.

Since its creation, it has been featured by South African leader Nelson Mandela, young Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, Spanish platform ¡Basta Ya! Has been received by celebrities like! and opponents of the Cuban regime such as the Ladies in White or Guillermo Fariñas.

Finalists for the prize also included an Israeli-Palestinian movement for peace in the region and an Azerbaijani anti-corruption activist.