Sakharov Prize 2024 awarded to María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia

European Parliament recognizes their efforts for democracy and human rights in Venezuela

María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia, two prominent Venezuelan opposition figures, have been awarded the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

The award, named after the Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, is given annually by the European Parliament to individuals or organizations that have made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of human rights and democracy.

Machado and González Urrutia were nominated for the prize by a group of MEPs from across the political spectrum, who praised their "courageous and tireless efforts to promote democracy and human rights in Venezuela."

In a statement, the European Parliament said that Machado and González Urrutia "have been at the forefront of the fight for democracy and human rights in Venezuela for many years, and have both faced persecution and imprisonment for their beliefs."

The Sakharov Prize is one of the most prestigious human rights awards in the world, and is awarded to individuals or organizations that have made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of human rights and democracy.

Past winners of the award include Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, and the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Machado and González Urrutia will be presented with the Sakharov Prize at a ceremony in Strasbourg, France, on December 14, 2024.

The award is a major recognition of their work and a testament to the importance of the fight for democracy and human rights in Venezuela.

María Corina Machado

María Corina Machado is a Venezuelan politician and activist who has been a leading figure in the opposition to the government of Nicolás Maduro.

She is the founder of the Vente Venezuela party and has served as a member of the National Assembly.

Machado has been a vocal critic of the Maduro government and has been arrested and detained on several occasions for her political activities.

Edmundo González Urrutia

Edmundo González Urrutia is a Venezuelan lawyer and human rights activist who has worked to promote democracy and human rights in Venezuela for many years.

He is the director of the Venezuelan Human Rights Observatory (OVDDH) and has documented numerous human rights abuses committed by the Maduro government.

González Urrutia has also been arrested and detained on several occasions for his work.