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Yulia Navalnaya (left) and Ursula von der Leyen at the award ceremony

Photo: Peter Kneffel / dpa

Russian Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has been awarded the Bambi in the "Courage" category. Navalny's wife Yulia Navalnaya and son Zakhar accepted the Bambi on behalf of the audience at the Bavaria Film Studios near Munich – to a standing ovation from the audience.

She is happy to accept the award on behalf of her husband, Navalnaya said. But she would be even happier if he could do it himself. "He is a victim, a victim of the truth. He's still telling the truth, even though he's in prison."

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen paid tribute to Navalny in her laudatory speech for "his dedication to freedom, to democracy, to human rights." What your husband, what your father does for us, indeed for the whole world, can hardly be put into words," she said. This indomitable man deserves our solidarity." She stressed: "We have to take his message out into the world until hopefully he can do it himself again."

Navalny, who has been in prison for two and a half years for alleged fraud, was sentenced to 19 years in prison in August in another trial for extremism. Internationally, the best-known opponent of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin is considered a political prisoner.

Markus Söder was also able to present a prize

The award for "National Drama" went to Felix Kammerer for his leading role in the Oscar-winning film "Nothing New in the West." It's really a very nice prize," said the Bambi winner after receiving the award with the gold-plated fawn in his hand. In the category »Actress National« Karoline Herfurth won. She said, "It's an incredible privilege to be able to tell stories."

The film »Oskar's Dress« with Florian David Fitz has been awarded in the category »Film national«.

The German national basketball team received the Bambi in the sports category. "We've shown what you can achieve when you have a team like that," said national coach Gordon Herbert.

The prize in the category "Our Earth" was awarded by Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder to the wildlife biologists Barbara and Christoph Promberger, who are building one of the largest European national parks in Romania with an area of over 250,000 hectares with their "Foundation Conservation Carpathia". Christoph Promberger also used the moment of his honour to appeal to Söder: "Make a few new national parks in Bavaria, then you will also get a Bambi".

Some of the winners had already been announced: Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen ("The Intoxication") received the Bambi in the category "Acting International", the Swedish pop singer Zara Larsson received the Bambi in the category "International Music". Peter Maffay, who received a Bambi 43 years ago, was declared a "legend", while actress Senta Berger received the Bambi for her life's work.

After a three-year break due to the coronavirus pandemic, the media prize was awarded again for the first time. The Bambi is awarded by Hubert Burda Media and is one of the most important media and television awards in Germany. It has been around since 1948. This year he celebrates his 75th birthday.

ani/dpa