Sakharov's Prize awarded to three "Memorial" human rights advocates for "freedom of thought"

Russian human rights activists Liudmila Alekseeva, Sergey Kovalyov and Oleg Orlov, representing the Human Rights Society "Memorial", were awarded by the European Parliament the prize named after Andrei Sakharov for the "freedom of thought". This news was announced by Jerzy Buzek, Chairman of the European Parliament, at today's session in Strasbourg.

The prize is for the first time awarded to human rights activists from Russia. In 1988, it was posthumously awarded to dissident Anatoly Marchenko who died in imprisonment.

"Those who stand for defence of human rights shall have opportunities for free self-expression," the ITAR-TASS quotes Mr Buzek as saying when announcing the laureate.

"By awarding this year's prize to Oleg Orlov, Sergey Kovalyov and Liudmila Alekseeva, who voice out on behalf of the 'Memorial' and all defenders of human rights in Russia, we hope to promote breaking the vicious circle of fear and violence, which human rights activists are facing in the Russian Federation, and convey our message: activists of the civil society everywhere should be free in enjoying their most fundamental rights - the rights to the freedom of thought and freedom of expression," said the speaker of the European Parliament.

Tress service of the European Parliament has emphasized that the prize was awarded to the "Memorial" "for promulgating the truth about political repressions in the Soviet Union and struggle against the present violations of human rights in post-Soviet countries aiming to ensure their democratic future."

Now, within a year to come many establishments of the European Union in Brussels will install information stands of the "Memorial", which will remind the European officials "of the value of the work" of Russian human rights activists, as the "Gazeta.Ru" writes.

See earlier reports: "Litigation chronicle: Chechen President vs. head of HRC "Memorial"," "Moscow GUVD sends Kadyrov vs. Orlov criminal case to prosecutor's office," "REN TV film crew leaves Ingushetia because of threats," "Head of FIDH: Kadyrov failed "taming" HRC "Memorial"."