Venezuela's Opposition Leaders Machado and Urrutia Awarded Sakharov Prize
Human Rights Champions Honored for Their Courage and Determination
The European Parliament has awarded its prestigious Sakharov Prize to Venezuelan opposition leaders Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma for their tireless efforts in the fight for democracy and human rights in their country.
López, a former mayor of Caracas, has been imprisoned since 2014 under politically motivated charges. Despite his imprisonment, he has remained a vocal critic of the Venezuelan government and a symbol of resistance for the opposition movement.
Ledezma, also a former mayor of Caracas, was arrested in 2015 and sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison. He was released from house arrest in 2018 but remains under strict travel restrictions.
The Sakharov Prize is awarded annually by the European Parliament to individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the defense of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Previous winners include Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, and the Belarusian opposition movement.
The award ceremony will take place in Strasbourg, France, on December 12th. López and Ledezma will be represented by their wives, Lilian Tintori and Mitzy Capriles, as they are unable to leave Venezuela.
