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European party nominates Euromaidan activists for Sakharov Prize

EPP vice chairman said that “Euromaidan has become a truly European voice for values, freedom and human rights and as such deserves the highest recognition of the European Parliament"

BRUSSELS, September 10. /ITAR-TASS/. The European People's Party (EPP) has nominated Ukraine's Euromaidan activists for the Sakharov human rights prize, the press-service of the EU's leading centre-right party said on Wednesday.

The nominees are Mustafa Nayem, Ruslana Lyzhychko, Yelizaveta Shchepetilnykova and Tatiana Chornovol, the party said.

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Commenting the nomination, EPP vice chairman said that “Euromaidan has become a truly European voice for values, freedom and human rights and as such deserves the highest recognition of the European Parliament."

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought named after Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, was established in 1988 by the European Parliament to honor individuals or organisations who have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights.

However, the EPP press-service could not answer an ITAR-TASS question whether the party excpected any completion of the investigation of sniper attacks in Kiev's central Maidan Square.

A major scandal broke out in Europe this spring after Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton discussed in a leaked phone call that the snipers could be hired by the opposition leaders, currently holding top government posts in Ukraine.

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