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Subscribe to our channel! The European Parliament has awarded the 2021 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, announced European Parliament Vice-President Heidi Hautala in Brussels on Wednesday. “Alexei Navalny has [shown] great courage in his attempts to restore the freedom of choice to the Russian people,“ said Hautala, describing him as an 'anti-corruption activist and an advocate for change.' Hautala went on to emphasise the commitment of the European Parliament to stand by those who 'yearn for a life without fear', stating, “Together, we will see that freedom will prevail, that democracy will prevail.“ In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that “we respect this body [European Parliament], but no one can make us respect such decisions“. A group of Afghan women, including human rights activists and a journalist, were also among this year's finalists, as well as the imprisoned former Bolivian head of state Jeanine Anez.
