Award «For freedom of thought» awarded Ukrainian Director Oleg Sentsov, who is serving time in a Russian prison. This was announced by the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani.
The award was established in 1988 in honor of the «father» of the Soviet hydrogen bomb Andrei Sakharov. In 1975, a scientist who tried to protect mankind from the consequences of their development, became a laureate of the Nobel peace prize. At home, he, despite all its merits, was an outcast.
The intention of the European Parliament to establish a prize in his honor Andrei Sakharov learned while in exile in Gorky. The physicist gave permission for this step, explaining what meaning he puts in this award. According to the press service of the prize. Sakharov, it is awarded for «exceptional contribution to the struggle for human rights around the globe».
Oleg Sentsov, the first Ukrainian, who received the award. Sakharov. The Director «has become a symbol of the struggle for the release of political prisoners around the world,» he said on Twitter Antonio Tajani.
Oleg Sentsov has become a symbol of struggle for release of political prisoners globally. By awarding #SakharovPrize to him, Parliament expresses solidarity with him and his cause. We ask for his immediate release, in particular, due to ill health caused by lengthy hunger strike. pic.twitter.com/LQy26ATQvr
— Antonio Tajani (@EP_President) October 25, 2018
«Oleg Sentsov is a symbol of the struggle for the liberation of political prisoners around the world. Handing him the award [.] Sakharov, [Euro]Parliament expresses solidarity with him and his business. We demand his immediate release, in particular due to the deterioration of health caused by prolonged hunger strike».
We will remind, on September 18, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the decision to nominate Oleg Sentsov for the Nobel peace prize.
Meanwhile, since the announcement of the political prisoners hunger strike it’s been 166 days.
