European Parliament Sakharov Prize 2021 awarded to Russian opponent Alexei Navalny

Alexeï Navalny is currently in detention in a camp in Siberia.

Vasily MAXIMOV AFP / File

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This year the European Parliament has awarded a somewhat special Sakharov Human Rights Prize, since the awarded Russian opponent, Alexeï Navalny, is currently in detention. 

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The Sakharov Prize celebrates freedom of expression.

In this case, it is severely damaged for the Russian opponent Alexeï Navalny.

Incarcerated since his return to Russia last January in a high-security penal colony about 100 kilometers east of Moscow, he must serve a sentence of two and a half years. 

Last August, 

eï N

and described his conditions of detention, subject to a program developed by the authorities: watching Russian state television and propaganda films for more than eight hours a day.

Reading, writing or any other activity being strictly prohibited. 

A 45-year-old lawyer, Alexeï Navalny has become the main critic of Vladimir Putin.

For years, he has denounced corruption in Russia, targeting local executives, deputies and ministers, via videos posted on social networks.

In August 2020, he was poisoned in Tomsk in Siberia.

It was the beginning of a medical and then judicial ordeal which ended in his conviction in February 2021 to two and a half years in prison in an obscure case of fraud.

Moscow has denied any involvement in the affair.

Navalny was imprisoned upon his return to Russia.

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The choice of Alexeï Navalny was immediately greeted by the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg.

This award is "

", the head of the Atlantic Alliance told the press in Brussels.

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• European Union

• Human rights

• Russia

• Alexei Navalny