‘Immense bravery’: Kremlin critic Navalny wins EU rights prize

Jailed Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny was awarded the European Parliament’s annual human rights prize on Wednesday for his efforts to challenge President Vladimir Putin’s grip on power.

Navalny, 45, who was poisoned in August 2020 by what Western nations said was a nerve agent, is serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence for parole violations he calls trumped up.

The EU has imposed sanctions on Russian officials over Navalny’s poisoning and imprisonment.

Moscow has denied any wrongdoing and accuses the EU of interfering in its domestic affairs.

It has also denied Western accusations that Navalny was jailed for his political activities and said he was punished for breaking the law.

“He has fought tirelessly against the corruption of Vladimir Putin’s regime. This cost him his liberty and nearly his life. Today’s prize recognises his immense bravery and we reiterate our call for his immediate release,” the European Parliament said on Twitter, announcing Navalny as the winner.

Past winners of the 50,000 euro ($59,000) Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, include South African President Nelson Mandela, Venezuela’s democratic opposition and Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai.

Navalny said on October 11 that a prison commission had designated him an extremist and a terrorist, which he has denied.

Navalny’s movement suffered an earlier blow in June when a court ruled its activities to be extremist.

Many of his allies have had their homes raided or their freedom of movement restricted, and some have fled abroad.

Last month, Russia opened a new criminal case against Navalny that could keep him in jail for a further decade.