Ukrainian diaspora congratulates Oleg Sentsov on winning Sakharov Prize

The Ukrainian diaspora has congratulated Oleg Sentsov on winning the 2018 European Parliament Sakharov Prize.

"The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) and the 20-million strong Ukrainian diaspora it represents congratulate Oleg Sentsov on being selected as the recipient of the 2018 European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought," the UWC’s press service reported.

“We congratulate Oleg Sentsov on being named the recipient of the 2018 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought and we applaud the European Parliament on the very strong statement it has made with its choice in defence of all illegally detained by the Russian Federation political prisoners,” UWC President Eugene Czolij stated.

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded each year by the European Parliament to honour individuals or organizations for their efforts to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. The recipient is selected by the European Parliament political group leaders. 

The Prize will be awarded during a ceremony scheduled for 12 December 2018 in Strasbourg, France.