Theme of the day of 12 December 2006

The European Parliament will award the Sakharov Prize to Belarus opposition leader Aliaksandr Milinkevich at noon today, 12 December. The EPP-ED Group proposed Mr Milinkevich as their candidate for the prize, and welcomes his success.

The leader of Belarussian dissent is an exemplary winner of the prize awarded to exceptional people or organisations fighting against oppression, intolerance and injustice. He is similar to the great dissident Andrei Sakharov after whom the prize is named.

It is a very positive sign that the European Parliament is expressing support for the Belarussian opposition, which is in need of moral as well as material support from the EU. Belarus needs to be assured about its European future and the awarding of the Sakharov Prize to Aliaksandr Milinkevich is a progressive step in this direction.

Mr Milinkevich will exchange views with EPP-ED MEPs at the EPP-ED Group meeting at 18.30 hrs this evening.


Press releases:

12/12/2006

Milinkevich deserves the Sakharov Prize. Simon Coveney MEP

26/10/2006

Sakharov Prize – Milinkevich, EPP-ED candidate, wins the 2006 award

Sakharov Prize - Information file

Archive Theme of the day