Opposition parties in Belarus will be awarded the Sakharov Prize this year, one of the most important European human rights awards. The European Parliament, which awards the award, praises the opposition for defending democracy.
For months, protesters have been going in the capital Minsk and elsewhere into the street to protest the re-election of President Lukashenko. They say there was widespread fraud in the August elections, which is also widely believed. The security forces are cracking down on the demonstrators and thousands of people have been arrested. The EU countries do not recognize the results of the presidential elections in Belarus.
Parliament president Sassoli calls on the protesters not to give up their fight. “There is something by your side that brute force can never defeat: the truth.”
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