Sakharov Prize: EPP Group candidate MEMORIAL to receive the 2009 Sakharov Prize for Human Rights and Freedom of Thought

The President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek announced today in plenary that the 2009 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will be granted to MEMORIAL, the EPP Group's candidate. The decision was taken this morning by the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament.

"I am delighted that MEMORIAL has been awarded the prize, it is well deserved and will encourage their excellent work in favour of fundamental freedoms and democracy", said the Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul MEP, just after the announcement.

MEMORIAL's candidacy for the 2009 Sakharov Prize was put forward already in July by Jacek Saryusz-Wolski MEP. The Head of the Polish Delegation in the EPP Group underlined many times that despite its symbolic dimension, the Sakharov Prize has become a powerful tool of the European Parliament's diplomacy and it should be used as a means to reaffirm and strengthen the European Union's foreign policy priorities.

"MEMORIAL fulfils all the necessary criteria and merits this award to the highest possible degree. Its actions to fight for human rights and freedom are wide in scope and it groups together people of great courage, who are ready to sacrifice their lives. By giving this reward to MEMORIAL, we are helping it continue its fight for fundamental freedoms and democracy", underlined Saryusz-Wolski.

"As a candidate, MEMORIAL has received very high support. Its merits and achievements are meaningful and I hope that this award will strengthen all human rights defenders in Russia", commented Polish EPP MEP Filip Kaczmarek, Member of the Development Committee.

'MEMORIAL International, Educational, Human Rights and Charitable Society' is an international volunteer public organisation which has recorded achievements in defending human rights and fundamental freedoms, safeguarding the rights of minorities, respect for international law, development of democracy and the rule of law. It monitors and reports on the situation in so-called 'hot spots' of actual and potential conflict and human rights abuse such as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Moldova, Crimea, North Ossetia, Ingushetia and in Russia where the focal point is Chechnya.

On 14 December 2009, the winner will take part in the joint meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Development Committee. The 20th award ceremony will take place in Strasbourg on 16 December 2009.