BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was awarded the European Parliament’s annual human rights prize on Wednesday for his efforts to problem President Vladimir Putin’s grip on energy.
Navalny, 45, who was poisoned in August 2020 by what Western nations mentioned was a nerve agent, is serving a 2-1/2-year sentence for parole violations he calls trumped up. The EU has imposed sanctions on Russian officers over Navalny’s poisoning and imprisonment.
“He has fought tirelessly in opposition to the corruption of Vladimir Putin’s regime. This price him his liberty and practically his life. At present’s prize recognises his immense bravery and we reiterate our name for his speedy launch,” the European Parliament mentioned on Twitter, asserting Navalny because the winner.
Moscow denies any wrongdoing and accuses the EU of interfering in its home affairs. It has additionally denied Western accusations that Navalny was jailed for his political actions and mentioned he was punished for breaking the legislation.
Previous winners of the 50,000 euro ($59,000) Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, embrace South African president Nelson Mandela, Venezuela’s democratic opposition and Pakistani training activist Malala Yousafzai.
NATO Secretary-Common Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the parliament’s determination.
“I believe it is an vital recognition of the vital function he has performed for a few years in supporting democratic values and being a robust voice in Russia,” Stoltenberg advised a information convention in Brussels, calling for his launch.
Navalny’s group wrote on the messaging app Telegram: “Putin calls Navalny a prison blogger, however he’s alone on this. Alexei Navalny is a politician who fights for justice regardless of all of the threats and assassination makes an attempt.”
“And we’re sure that Putin isn’t happy to listen to about this,” the group mentioned.
Navalny mentioned on Oct. 11 {that a} jail fee had designated him an extremist and a terrorist, which he denies.
Navalny’s motion suffered an earlier blow in June when a courtroom dominated its actions to be extremist. Lots of his allies have had their houses raided or their freedom of motion restricted, and a few have fled overseas. Final month Russia opened a brand new prison case in opposition to Navalny that might hold him in jail for an additional decade.
(Further reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber in Moscow)
