Venezuelan opposition wins EU human rights prize

The European Parliament on Thursday awarded the prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the Venezuelan democratic opposition for its contributions to the defence of human rights.

In a statement, the Parliament confirmed that it had awarded the prize to the Venezuelan National Assembly and its president Julio Borges, as well as all political prisoners in the South American nation represented by prominent opposition leaders, reports Efe news.

"For the last several years, Venezuela has been in political crisis," the statement said, adding that the ruling party, which is led by President Nicolas Maduro, has steadily limited the rule of law and constitutional order.

It made reference to the Venezuelan Supreme Court's decision in March to strip the then opposition-controlled National Assembly of its legislative power, citing Borges' description of the crisis: "It's not only a political confrontation in Venezuela. It's a vital, existential, values-based confrontation."

Since the onset of the deadly crisis, the number of political prisoners in Venezuela has risen to around 600, according to the Venezuelan Penal Forum, a human rights organisation that provides legal aid to those thought to have been detained arbitrarily, tortured or injured in protests as well as to people with limited financial resources who face legal action.

"Since the beginning of the year, more than 130 opponents have been murdered," the statement said.

The recipients of the Sakharov award receive a monetary prize of 50,000 euros ($59,000).

The two other nominees for the prize were Guatemalan human rights activist Aura Lolita Chavez Izcaquic and journalist Dawit Isaak, imprisoned without trial in Eritrea since 2001.

--IANS

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