Russia does not respect the award of the Sakharov Prize to Navalny – SME.sk

MOSCOW. The Kremlin said on Thursday that it did not respect the decision of the European Parliament, which on Wednesday awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to imprisoned Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny.

The AFP and TASS agencies informed about it.

“We respect this body (the European Parliament), but no one can force us to respect such decisions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on the sidelines of awarding the EU’s highest human rights award to imprisoned Navalny.

The winner of the shortlisted three-member nomination was decided on Wednesday by the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament (EP) during a plenary session in Strasbourg.

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By awarding the prize, the EP called for his release. The President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, wrote this on his Twitter account on Wednesday.

“Navalny tirelessly fought against corruption of the regime (Russian president) Vladimir Putin. It cost him his freedom and almost his life … The European Parliament is once again calling for his release, “Sassoli said on Wednesday.

Since 1988, the European Parliament has awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, with a financial reward of EUR 50 000, to individuals or organizations who have made an outstanding contribution to the fight for human rights in the world.

Last year, the award was given to the democratic opposition in Belarus.

The awards ceremony will take place on 15 December at the EP plenary session in Strasbourg. It is not yet clear who the price on behalf of the imprisoned Navaľného takes over.