Sakharov Prize Awarded To Belarusian Opposition As Minsk Protests Continue

The European Parliament has awarded its annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the Belarusian opposition, led by presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

• The prize is given by the Parliament to the individual or group deemed to have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedom of thought.
• Past winners include Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, and Venezuela's democratic opposition.
• President of the European Parliament David Sassoli said: "Over the last months you have showed the world what it means not to give up, you have defended your rights and you have not given up the struggle. The strength of your spirit has shown the way to revolution, which has taken power in the country in 2020 and we pay tribute to you and to your resistance and to your perseverance."
• Protests against the gov't of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko continue in areas of the capital Minsk on a regular basis. News reports also state the increase of smaller acts of defiance as pro-democracy Belarusians seek to weaken the Lukashenko gov't.
• The country remains locked a kind of political purgatory, with the Lukashenko gov't still in power and, for now, retaining the support of Moscow. But other nations, and perhaps most crucially the EU recognises Tsihkanouskaya as the legitimate president, limiting the prospect for any mediation until Lukashenko steps down.