The Council of Europe awarded its 2024 rights prize to Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado on Monday (September 30, 2024) for her brave struggle for democracy under the oppressive rule of President Nicolas Maduro.
Expressing deep gratitude, Ms. Machado, the first Latin American to receive the award named after the renowned Czech dissident Vaclav Havel, said she was “deeply moved, honoured, and grateful.”
Currently in hiding in Venezuela due to the contested presidential elections claimed by Mr. Maduro, Ms. Machado’s daughter Ana accepted the award on her behalf at the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg.
In a video message, Ms. Machado dedicated the recognition to the millions of Venezuelans upholding Havel’s values daily, stating that their movement showcased the triumph of democracy over dictatorship. She emphasized the ongoing struggle for truth and justice.
Ms. Machado, who played a significant role in Venezuela’s recent presidential election, continues to evade authorities amidst a crackdown on her supporters. The opposition’s candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, is believed to have won by the opposition despite official claims of Mr. Maduro’s victory.
Previous winners of the prestigious award include Osman Kavala, the Turkish philanthropist and civil society activist, and Russian activist Vladimir Kara-Murza. Kavala remains imprisoned since his arrest in 2017, while Kara-Murza was released earlier this year after over two years of incarceration in Russia.
Published – September 30, 2024 08:42 pm IST
