BRUSSELS (AP) 鈥� Venezuelan opposition leaders Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonz谩lez Urrutia have won the European Union鈥檚 top human rights honor, the Sakharov Prize, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced Thursday.
Machado was set to run as the democratic opposition candidate against the incumbent president, Nicol谩s Maduro, in Venezuela鈥檚 contested 2024 election, but she was disqualified by the government, so Gonz谩lez took her place. He had never run for office before the presidential election.
The lead-up to the poll saw widespread repression, including disqualifications, arrests, and human rights violations. Machado went into hiding, fearing for her life. A Venezuelan court issued an arrest warrant for Gonz谩lez, who moved to Spain and was granted asylum.
鈥淚n their quest for a fair, free and peaceful transition of power, they have fearlessly upheld values that millions of Venezuelans and the European Parliament hold so dear: justice, democracy and the rule of law,鈥� Metsola told EU lawmakers.
鈥淭his parliament stands with the people of Venezeula and with Maria and Edmundo in their struggle for the democratic future of their country,鈥� she said, adding: 鈥淲e are confident that Venezeula and democracy will ultimately prevail.鈥�
Machado鈥檚 group maintains that it has evidence that Gonz谩lez won the July 28 presidential election by a wide margin, despite Maduro's claim to have won.
Maduro鈥檚 victory was contested by independent observers, including the United Nations. In a resolution last month, the EU parliament recognized Gonz谩lez as Venezuela鈥檚 legitimate president.
In a post on X, Gonz谩lez said that he was 鈥渉onored and grateful鈥� for the award.
He thanked Machado, describing her as 鈥渁n exceptional person who, with all her political talent, her absolute dedication and her indomitable spirit, paved the way that we are currently following, keeping the flame of freedom alive in our country.鈥�
Gonz谩lez also expressed his 鈥済ratitude, pride and admiration for my Venezuelan compatriots, who with the utmost civility, courage and determination have for years confronted, and continue to confront, a regime that systematically violates human rights.鈥�
But he warned that 鈥渢he struggle is not over. The regime persists in blocking political change, committing more and more human rights violations and crimes against humanity,鈥� and he urged supporters of democracy everywhere to help 鈥渆nforce the sovereign mandate of the Venezuelan people.鈥�
The EU award, named after Soviet dissident Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honor individuals or groups who defend human rights and basic freedoms.
The winner is chosen by senior EU lawmakers from among candidates nominated by the European Parliament鈥檚 various political groups. The assembly says the award is 鈥渢he highest tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work.鈥�
Two Middle East grassroots groups 鈥� Women Wage Peace and Women of the Sun 鈥� were on the shortlist for their efforts to bridge the divide between Israelis and Palestinians, as was Azerbaijan academic and anti-corruption activist Gubad Ibadoghlu.
Several laureates, including Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
The annual award, with its 50,000-euro ($54,000) endowment, will be presented in a ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, in mid-December.
The Associated Press
