Russia’s Alexei Navalny wins EU’s Sakharov Prize

Alexei Navalny has won this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, the European Parliament announced Wednesday.

Parliament President David Sassoli congratulated the Russian opposition leader on Twitter, saying that 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 jailed Kremlin critic was nominated by both the European People’s Party and Renew Europe groups for his “courage in fighting for freedom, democracy and human rights.”

Navalny was arrested in Moscow in January after returning from Germany where he was treated after being poisoned with a nerve agent. The 45-year-old was sentenced to two years and eight months for alleged parole violations. Navalny and his allies have also been charged with setting up an “extremist group.”

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded by the European Parliament every year in memory of Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov.