The Sakharov Prize, considered the highest award given by the European Union in the field of human rights, was awarded today, Thursday, to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Orotia, the opposition candidate in the presidential elections held last July.

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, announced the winners following a meeting of political group leaders, according to foreign media reports.

Since 1988, the European Union has annually presented the Sakharov Prize to individuals and organizations defending human rights and democracy, named in honor of Soviet scientist Andrei Sakharov, who was an activist in this field.