# Sakharov Prize

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, commonly known as the Sakharov Prize, is an honorary award for individuals or groups who have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedom of thought. Named after Russian scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, the prize was established in December 1988 by the European Parliament.
A shortlist of nominees is drawn up annually by the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs and Committee on Development. The MEPs who make up those committees then select a shortlist in September. Thereafter, the final choice is given to The European Parliament's Conference of Presidents (President and political group's leaders) and the laureate's name is announced late in October. The prize is awarded in a ceremony at the Parliament's Strasbourg hemicycle (round chamber) in December. The prize includes a monetary award of €50,000.
The first prize was awarded jointly to South African Nelson Mandela and Russian Anatoly Marchenko. The 1990 award was given to Aung San Suu Kyi, but she could not receive it until 2013 as a result of her political imprisonment in Burma. The prize has also been awarded to organisations, the first being the Argentine Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo in 1992. Six Sakharov laureates were subsequently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize: Aung San Suu Kyi (1991), Nelson Mandela (1993), Malala Yousafzai (2014), Denis Mukwege (2018), Nadia Murad (2018) and Memorial (2022).
Razan Zaitouneh (2011) was kidnapped in 2013 and is still missing. Nasrin Sotoudeh (2012) was released from prison in September 2013, but is still barred from leaving Iran, along with fellow 2012 laureate Jafar Panahi. The 2017 prize was awarded to the Democratic Opposition in Venezuela, under boycott of the European United Left–Nordic Green Left.
As of 2024, the prize has been awarded to 51 recipients: 39 individuals (with 3 posthumously given) and 12 organizations.

## Laureates and nominees

| Year | Award | Nominees | Country/ Headquarters | Nominators |
| 1988 | Laureate | Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) Anatoly Marchenko (1938–1986) | South Africa Soviet Union | |
| 1988 | Finalists |
| 1988 | Finalists | Roald Zelichenok (1936–2024) | Soviet Union | |
| 1988 | Longlists |
| 1988 | Longlists | Larisa Bogoraz (1929–2004) | Soviet Union | |
| 1988 | Longlists | International Human Rights Association (founded in ?) | Switzerland | |
| 1988 | Longlists | Natan Sharansky (born 1948) | Israel | |
| 1988 | Longlists | Mordechai Vanunu (born 1954) | Israel | |
| 1989 | Laureate | Alexander Dubček (1921–1992) | Czechoslovakia | European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and Luigi Alberto Colajanni and other MEPs |
| 1989 | Finalists |
| 1989 | Finalists | Doina Cornea (1929–2018) | Romania | Greens–European Free Alliance and Christopher Prout and other MEPs |
| 1989 | Finalists | Gyula Horn (1932–2013) | Hungary | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and European People's Party |
| 1989 | Longlists |
| 1989 | Longlists | Tadeusz Mazowiecki (1927–2013) | Poland | Anne McIntosh and other MEPs |
| 1989 | Longlists | Chico Mendes (1944–1988) | Brazil | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 1990 | Laureate | Aung San Suu Kyi (born 1945) | Myanmar | European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party |
| 1990 | Finalists |
| 1990 | Finalists | László Tőkés (born 1952) | Hungary | European People's Party |
| 1990 | Finalists | Fang Lizhi (1936–2012) | China | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 1990 | Longlists |
| 1990 | Longlists | Universidad Católica de El Salvador (founded 1982) | El Salvador | Rosy Bindi and other MEPs |
| 1990 | Longlists | Ibrahim Rugova (1944–2006) | Yugoslavia | Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 1990 | Longlists | Adem Demaçi (1936–2018) | Yugoslavia | Jaak Vandemeulebroucke and other MEPs |
| 1990 | Longlists | Chico Mendes (1944–1988) | Brazil | Left Unity Group |
| 1990 | Longlists | Aziz Nesin (1915–1995) | Turkey | Left Unity Group |
| 1991 | Laureate | Adem Demaçi (1936–2016) | Yugoslavia | European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, Greens–European Free Alliance, European People's Party, and Alexander Langer and other MEPs |
| 1991 | Finalists |
| 1991 | Finalists | László Tőkés (born 1952) | Hungary | European People's Party |
| 1991 | Finalists | Terry Waite (born 1939) | United Kingdom | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats |
| 1991 | Longlists |
| 1991 | Longlists | Mikhail Gorbachev (1931–2022) Boris Yeltsin (1931–2006) | Soviet Union | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 1991 | Longlists | Nancy Gracey (?-2025) | United Kingdom | CG Group |
| 1991 | Longlists | Eduard Shevardnadze (1928–2014) | Georgia | European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party |
| 1991 | Longlists | Wei Jingsheng (born 1950) | China | European Democratic Party |
| 1992 | Laureate | Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo (founded in 1977) | Argentina | |
| 1992 | Finalists |
| 1992 | Finalists | Alija Izetbegović (1925–2003) | Bosnia-Herzegovina | |
| 1992 | Finalists | Maria Elena Cruz Varela (born 1953) | Cuba | |
| 1992 | Longlists |
| 1992 | Longlists | Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (founded in 1987) | Cuba | |
| 1992 | Longlists | Giovanni Falcone (1939–1992) Paolo Borsellino (1940–1992) | Italy | |
| 1992 | Longlists | Rigoberta Menchú (born 1959) | Guatemala | |
| 1993 | Laureate | Oslobođenje (founded in 1943) | Bosnia-Herzegovina | |
| 1993 | Finalists |
| 1993 | Finalists | Xanana Gusmão (born 1946) | East Timor | |
| 1993 | Finalists | Gendün Rinchen (1926–1997) | China | |
| 1993 | Longlists |
| 1993 | Longlists | Cedric Mayson (1927–2015) | South Africa | |
| 1993 | Longlists | Volmer do Nascimento (?–1991) | Brazil | |
| 1993 | Longlists | Salman Rushdie (born 1947) | United Kingdom | |
| 1994 | Laureate | Taslima Nasrin (born 1962) | Bangladesh | |
| 1994 | Finalists |
| 1994 | Finalists | Sebastian Arcos Bergnes (1931–1997) | Cuba | |
| 1994 | Finalists | Leyla Zana (born 1961) | Turkey | |
| 1994 | Longlists |
| 1994 | Longlists | Xanana Gusmão (born 1946) | East Timor | |
| 1994 | Longlists | Samuel Ruiz (1924–2011) | Mexico | |
| 1994 | Longlists | Wei Jingsheng (born 1950) | China | |
| 1994 | Longlists | Mehdi Zana (born 1940) | Turkey | |
| 1995 | Laureate | Leyla Zana (born 1961) | Turkey | |
| 1995 | Finalists |
| 1995 | Finalists | Sergei Kovalev (1930–2021) | Russia | |
| 1995 | Finalists | Naguib Mahfouz (1911–2006) | Egypt | |
| 1995 | Longlists |
| 1995 | Longlists | Comunità San Patrignano (founded in 1978) | Italy | |
| 1995 | Longlists | Community of Sant'Egidio (founded in 1968) | Italy | |
| 1995 | Longlists | Palden Gyatso (1933–2018) | China | |
| 1995 | Longlists | Ken Saro-Wiwa (1941–1995) | Nigeria | |
| 1996 | Laureate | Wei Jingsheng (born 1950) | China | |
| 1996 | Finalists |
| 1996 | Finalists | Samuel Ruiz (1924–2011) | Mexico | |
| 1996 | Finalists | Leonel Morejón Almagro (born ?) | Cuba | |
| 1996 | Longlists |
| 1996 | Longlists | Silvia Baraldini (born 1947) | Italy | |
| 1996 | Longlists | Aleksandr Nikitin (born 1952) | Russia | |
| 1997 | Laureate | Salima Ghezali (born 1958) | Algeria | |
| 1997 | Finalists |
| 1997 | Finalists | Franjo Komarica (born 1946) | Bosnia-Herzegovina | |
| 1997 | Finalists | Eleni Foka (born 1950) | Cyprus | |
| 1997 | Longlists |
| 1997 | Longlists | Elizardo Sánchez (born 1944) | Cuba | |
| 1998 | Laureate | Ibrahim Rugova (1944–2006) | Yugoslavia | |
| 1998 | Finalists |
| 1998 | Finalists | Akın Birdal (born 1948) | Turkey | |
| 1998 | Finalists | Ukshin Hoti (1942–1999) | Kosovo | |
| 1998 | Longlists |
| 1998 | Longlists | ACCEPT (founded in 1996) | Romania | |
| 1998 | Longlists | 14th Dalai Lama (born 1935) | China | |
| 1998 | Longlists | José Rainha Júnior (born 1960) | Brazil | |
| 1998 | Longlists | Marta Beatriz Roque (born 1945) | Cuba | |
| 1998 | Longlists | Mordechai Vanunu (born 1954) | Israel | |
| 1999 | Laureate | Xanana Gusmão (born 1946) | East Timor | |
| 1999 | Finalists |
| 1999 | Finalists | Angelina Atyam (born 1946) | Uganda | |
| 1999 | Finalists | Radio B 2-92 (founded in 1989) | Serbia | |
| 1999 | Longlists |
| 1999 | Longlists | Akın Birdal (born 1948) | Turkey | |
| 1999 | Longlists | Khemaïs Ksila (born 1956) | Tunisia | |
| 1999 | Longlists | Martin Lee (born 1938) | Hong Kong | |
| 2000 | Laureate | ¡Basta Ya! (founded in 1994) | Spain | Gerardo Galeote Quecedo and other MEPs |
| 2000 | Finalists |
| 2000 | Finalists | Angelina Atyam (born 1946) | Uganda | |
| 2000 | Finalists | Andrei Babitsky (1964–2022) | Russia | |
| 2000 | Finalists | Ngawang Sangdrol (born 1977) | China | |
| 2000 | Longlists |
| 2000 | Longlists | Mumia Abu-Jamal (born 1954) | United States | |
| 2000 | Longlists | Immaculée Birhaheka (born 1960) | DR Congo | |
| 2000 | Longlists | Radhia Nasraoui (born 1953) | Tunisia | |
| 2000 | Longlists | Aleksandr Nikitin (born 1952) | Russia | |
| 2001 | Laureate | Nurit Peled-Elhanan (born 1949) Izzat Ghazzawi (1951–2003) | Israel Palestine | Francis Wurtz and other MEPs |
| 2001 | Laureate | Zacarias Kamwenho (born 1934) | Angola | José Ribeiro e Castro and other MEPs |
| 2001 | Finalists |
| 2001 | Finalists | Sihem Bensedrine (born 1950) | Tunisia | Harlem Désir and other MEPs |
| 2001 | Longlists |
| 2001 | Longlists | Angelina Atyam (born 1946) | Uganda | Emma Nicholson and other MEPs |
| 2001 | Longlists | Francisco de Roux (born 1943) | Colombia | Antonio Di Pietro and other MEPs |
| 2001 | Longlists | Patrick Leahy (born 1940) | United States | Mario Segni and other MEPs |
| 2001 | Longlists | Li Hongzhi (born 1951) | China | Nelly Maes and other MEPs |
| 2001 | Longlists | Ngawang Sangdrol (born 1977) | China | Thomas Mann and other MEPs |
| 2001 | Longlists | Morgan Tsvangirai (1952–2018) | Zimbabwe | Johan Van Hecke and other MEPs |
| 2002 | Laureate | Oswaldo Payá (1952–2012) | Cuba | Graham Watson and 3 other MEPs |
| 2002 | Finalists |
| 2002 | Finalists | Sihem Bensedrine (born 1950) Saad Eddin Ibrahim (1938–2023) | Tunisia Egypt | Emma Bonino and 5 other MEPs |
| 2002 | Finalists | Morgan Tsvangirai (1952–2018) | Zimbabwe | Geoffrey Van Orden and 3 other MEPs |
| 2002 | Longlists |
| 2002 | Longlists | Ahmad Shah Massoud (1953–2001) | Afghanistan | Union for Europe of the Nations |
| 2002 | Longlists | Grigory Pasko (born 1962) | Ukraine | Matti Wuori and 3 other MEPs |
| 2002 | Longlists | Kailash Satyarthi (born 1954) | India | Luigi Vinci and other MEPs |
| 2003 | Laureate | Kofi Annan (1938–2018) United Nations (founded in 1945) | Ghana United Nations | European People's Party and Party of European Socialists |
| 2003 | Finalists |
| 2003 | Finalists | Akbar Ganji (born 1960) | Iran | Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2003 | Finalists | Sérgio Vieira de Mello (1948–2003) | Brazil | European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, The Left in the European Parliament, Union for Europe of the Nations and José Ribeiro e Castro and other MEPs |
| 2003 | Finalists | Hans Blix (born 1928) Mohamed ElBaradei (born 1942) | Sweden Egypt | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 2003 | Longlists |
| 2003 | Longlists | Saim Balmukhanov (1922–?) | Kazakhstan | Struan Stevenson and other MEPs |
| 2003 | Longlists | Yury Bandazhevsky (born 1957) | Belarus | Marie Anne Isler Béguin and other MEPs |
| 2003 | Longlists | Central Asian opposition leaders and campaigners of democracy:Felix Kulov (born 1948)Muhammed Bekzhon (born ?)Batyr Berdyev (born 1960)Galymzhan Zhakiyanov (born 1963) | Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan Turkmenistan Kazakhstan | Matti Wuori and other MEPs |
| 2004 | Laureate | Belarusian Association of Journalists (founded in 1995) | Belarus | Michael Gahler and other MEPs |
| 2004 | Finalists |
| 2004 | Finalists | Natalya Estemirova (1958–2009) | Russia | Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2004 | Finalists | Sergei Kovalev (1930–2021) | Russia | Vytautas Landsbergis and other MEPs |
| 2004 | Finalists | Íngrid Betancourt (born 1961) | Colombia | Party of European Socialists |
| 2004 | Longlists |
| 2004 | Longlists | Reporters Without Borders (born 1985) | France | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |
| 2004 | Longlists | Enzo Baldoni (1948–2004) Rachel Corrie (1979–2003) Leonid Roshal (born 1933) | Italy United States Russia | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 2004 | Longlists | Alexander Esenin-Volpin (1924–2016) | Russia | Independence/Democracy |
| 2004 | Longlists | Angelica Edna Calo Livne (born 1955) | Italy | Mario Mauro and other MEPs |
| 2004 | Longlists | Václav Havel (1936–2011) | Czechoslovakia | Jana Bobošíková and other MEPs |
| 2004 | Longlists | Ibrahim Hussein Zaki (born 1947) | Maldives | Nirj Deva and other MEPs |
| 2004 | Longlists | Zubr (founded in 2001) | Belarus | Rolandas Pavilionis and other MEPs |
| 2005 | Laureate | Ladies in White (born 2003) | Cuba | Gerardo Galeote Quecedo and other MEPs |
| 2005 | Laureate | Reporters Without Borders (founded in 1989) | France | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |
| 2005 | Laureate | Hauwa Ibrahim (founded in 1989) | Nigeria | Party of European Socialists |
| 2005 | Longlists |
| 2005 | Longlists | Yang Zili (born 1971) Mojtaba Saminejad (born 1980) Zouhair Yahyaoui (1967–2005) | China Iran Tunisia | Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2005 | Longlists | Mukhtar Mai (born 1972) | Pakistan | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 2005 | Longlists | Gunārs Astra (1931–1988) | Latvia | Union for Europe of the Nations |
| 2005 | Longlists | Alexander Esenin-Volpin (1924–2016) Sergei Kovalev (1930–2021) | Russia | Independence/Democracy |
| 2005 | Longlists | Mudawi Ibrahim Adam (born 1956) | Sudan | Simon Coveney and other MEPs |
| 2005 | Longlists | Daniel Barenboim (born 1942) West–Eastern Divan Orchestra (founded in 199) | Germany Spain | Erna Hennicot-Schoepges and other MEPs |
| 2005 | Longlists | Aminatou Haidar (born 1966) | Western Sahara | Karin Scheele and other MEPs |
| 2006 | Laureate | Alaksandar Milinkievič (born 1947) | Belarus | Union for Europe of the Nations and European People's Party |
| 2006 | Finalists |
| 2006 | Finalists | The Colombians fighting for kidnapped hostages | Colombia | Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2006 | Finalists | Ghassan Tueni (1926–2012) | Lebanon | The Left in the European Parliament and Party of European Socialists |
| 2006 | Longlists |
| 2006 | Longlists | Íngrid Betancourt (born 1961) | Colombia | Marie-Arlette Carlotti and other MEPs |
| 2006 | Longlists | Fulda-Moscho-Project (founded in 2002) Muthgard Hinkelmann-Toewe (born 1940) | Germany Kenya | Alexander Nuno Alvaro and other MEPs |
| 2006 | Longlists | Vladimir Kozlov (born 1960) | Kazakhstan | Toomas Hendrik Ilves and other MEPs |
| 2006 | Longlists | Erwin Kräutler (born 1939) | Austria | Herbert Bösch (born 1954) and other MEPs |
| 2006 | Longlists | Somaly Mam (born 1970) | Cambodia | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |
| 2006 | Longlists | Mesfin Woldemariam (1930–2020) | Ethiopia | Ana Maria Gomes and other MEPs |
| 2006 | Longlists | Women in Black (founded in 1991) | Serbia | Jelko Kacin and other MEPs |
| 2007 | Laureate | Salih Mahmoud Osman (born 1957) | Sudan | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and Josep Borrell and 181 other MEPs |
| 2007 | Finalists |
| 2007 | Finalists | Anna Politkovskaya (1958–2006) | Russia | European People's Party |
| 2007 | Finalists | Hu Jia (born 1973) Zeng Jinyan (born 1983) | China | Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2007 | Longlists |
| 2007 | Longlists | Patriarch Bartholomew I (born 1940) | Turkey | Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty |
| 2007 | Longlists | Malalai Joya (born 1978) | Afghanistan | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 2008 | Laureate | Hu Jia (born 1973) | China | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, and Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2008 | Finalists |
| 2008 | Finalists | Alyaksandr Kazulin (born 1955) | Belarus | Jacek Protasiewicz and 45 other MEPs |
| 2008 | Finalists | Apollinaire Malu Malu (1961–2016) | DR Congo | Luisa Morgantini and 47 other MEPs |
| 2008 | Longlists |
| 2008 | Longlists | Íngrid Betancourt (born 1961) | Colombia | Party of European Socialists |
| 2008 | Longlists | 14th Dalai Lama (born 1935) | China | Union for Europe of the Nations and Piia-Noora Kauppi and 40 other MEPs |
| 2008 | Longlists | Morgan Tsvangirai (1958–2018) | Zimbabwe | Luís Queiró and 96 other MEPs |
| 2008 | Longlists | European Roma Rights Centre (founded in 1996) | Hungary | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 2008 | Longlists | Mikhail Trepashkin (born 1957) | Belarus | Independence/Democracy |
| 2009 | Laureate | Memorial (founded in 1989) and human rights defenders in Russia:Lyudmila Alexeyeva (1927–2018)Oleg Orlov (born 1953)Sergei Kovalev (1930–2021) | Russia | Greens–European Free Alliance and Jacek Saryusz-Wolski and 59 other MEPs |
| 2009 | Finalists |
| 2009 | Finalists | Izzeldin Abuelaish (born 1955) | Palestine | Véronique De Keyser and 54 other MEPs |
| 2009 | Finalists | Dawit Isaak (born 1964) | Eritrea Sweden | The Left in the European Parliament and Olle Schmidt and 31 other MEPs |
| 2009 | Longlists |
| 2009 | Longlists | Fundación Vicente Ferrer (founded in 1996) | Spain | Juan Andrés Perelló and 39 other MEPs |
| 2009 | Longlists | Mariam Lamizana (born 1951) | Burkina Faso | Europe of Freedom and Democracy |
| 2009 | Longlists | Denis Mukwege (born 1955) | DR Congo | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |
| 2009 | Longlists | Thadeus Nguyễn Văn Lý (born 1946) | Vietnam | Michael Gahler and 44 other MEPs |
| 2009 | Longlists | Shadi Sadr (born 1974) Neda Agha-Soltan (1983–2009) Iranian citizens and activists | Iran | Marietje Schaake and 39 other MEPs |
| 2009 | Longlists | Roberto Saviano (born 1979) | Italy | Sonia Alfano and 39 other MEPs |
| 2010 | Laureate | Guillermo Fariñas (born 1962) | Cuba | European Conservatives and Reformists Group, European People's Party, and Edvard Kožušník and 91 other MEPs |
| 2010 | Finalists |
| 2010 | Finalists | Breaking the Silence (founded in 2004) | Israel | The Left in the European Parliament and Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2010 | Finalists | Birtukan Mideksa (born 1974) | Ethiopia | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats |
| 2010 | Longlists |
| 2010 | Longlists | "Access" (founded in ?) | | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |
| 2010 | Longlists | Haitham al-Maleh (born 1931) | Syria | Heidi Hautala and 44 other MEPs |
| 2010 | Longlists | Aminatou Haidar (born 1966) | Western Sahara | Norbert Neuser and 42 other MEPs |
| 2010 | Longlists | Dawit Isaak (born 1964) | Eritrea Sweden | Olle Schmidt and 40 other MEPs |
| 2010 | Longlists | Thadeus Nguyễn Văn Lý (born 1946) | Vietnam | European Conservatives and Reformists Group |
| 2010 | Longlists | Open Doors (founded in 1955) | Netherlands | European Conservatives and Reformists Group |
| 2011 | Laureate | Five Arab spring activists:Asmaa Mahfouz (born 1985)Ahmed al-Senussi (born 1933)Razan Zaitouneh (born 1977)Ali Farzat (born 1951)Mohamed Bouazizi (1984–2011) | Egypt Libya Syria Tunisia | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Greens–European Free Alliance and European People's Party |
| 2011 | Finalists |
| 2011 | Finalists | Dzmitry Bandarenka (born 1963) | Belarus | European Conservatives and Reformists Group |
| 2011 | Finalists | San José de Apartadó Peace Community (founded in 1997) | Colombia | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 2011 | Longlists | Izzeldin Abuelaish (born 1955) | Palestine | European Conservatives and Reformists Group |
| 2011 | Longlists | Boris Pahor (1933–2022) | Slovenia | Milan Zver and 51 other MEPs |
| 2012 | Laureate | Nasrin Sotoudeh (born 1963) Jafar Panahi (born 1960) | Iran | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Greens–European Free Alliance and Elmar Brok and 38 other MEPs |
| 2012 | Finalists |
| 2012 | Finalists | Ales Bialatski (born 1962) | Belarus | Jacek Saryusz-Wolski and 82 other MEPs |
| 2012 | Finalists | Pussy Riot (founded in 2011) | Russia | Werner Schulz and 45 other MEPs |
| 2012 | Longlists |
| 2012 | Longlists | Rwanda political prisoners represented by:Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza (born 1968)Déogratias Mushayid (born 1961)Bernard Ntaganda(born 1967) | Rwanda | Willy Meyer Pleite and 41 other MEPs |
| 2012 | Longlists | Joseph Francis (born ?) | Pakistan | European Conservatives and Reformists Group |
| 2013 | Laureate | Malala Yousafzai (born 1997) | Pakistan | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, European Conservatives and Reformists Group, and European People's Party |
| 2013 | Finalists |
| 2013 | Finalists | Belarusian political prisoners represented by:Ales Bialatski (born 1962)Eduard Lobau (1988–2023)Mikola Statkevich (born 1956) | Belarus | Marek Migalski and 41 other MEPs |
| 2013 | Finalists | Edward Snowden (born 1983) | United States Russia | The Left in the European Parliament and Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2013 | Longlists |
| 2013 | Longlists | Reeyot Alemu (born 1980) Eskinder Nega (born 1969) | Ethiopia | Ana Maria Gomes and 40 other MEPs |
| 2013 | Longlists | Mikhail Khodorkovsky (born 1963) | Russia | Werner Schulz and 40 other MEPs |
| 2013 | Longlists | "Standing Man" protesters | Turkey | Marietje Schaake and 40 other MEPs |
| 2013 | Longlists | CNN Freedom Project (founded in 2011) | United States | Boris Zala and 40 other MEPs |
| 2014 | Laureate | Denis Mukwege (born 1955) | DR Congo | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |
| 2014 | Finalists |
| 2014 | Finalists | Leyla Yunus (born 1955) | Azerbaijan | Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2014 | Finalists | EuroMaiden represented by:Mustafa Nayyem (born 1981)Ruslana Lyzhychko (born 1973)Yelyzaveta Schepetylnykova (born ?)Tetiana Chornovol (born 1979) | Ukraine | Jacek Saryusz-Wolski and 52 other MEPs |
| 2014 | Longlists |
| 2014 | Longlists | Mahmoud Al 'Asali (?–2014) Louis Raphaël I Sako (born 1948) | Iraq | European Conservatives and Reformists Group Anna Záborská and 66 other MEPs |
| 2014 | Longlists | Organisations for the protection of Christian minorities:Coordination of the Christians of East in Danger (CHREDO) (founded 2013)Open Doors (founded in 1955)Oeuvre d'Orient (founded in 1856)Aid to the Church in Need (born 1947) | Netherlands Belgium Germany | Philippe Juvin and 60 other MEPs |
| 2014 | Longlists | Ayaan Hirsi Ali (born 1969) | Somalia United States | Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy |
| 2015 | Laureate | Raif Badawi (born 1984) | Saudi Arabia | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, European Conservatives and Reformists Group, and Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2015 | Finalists |
| 2015 | Finalists | Boris Nemtsov (1959–2015) | Russia | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |
| 2015 | Finalists | Venezuelan opposition and political prisoners | Venezuela | European People's Party |
| 2015 | Longlist |
| 2015 | Longlist | Edna Adan Ismail (born 1937) | Somalia | Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy |
| 2015 | Longlist | Nadiya Savchenko (born 1981) | Ukraine | European Conservatives and Reformists Group |
| 2015 | Longlist | Edward Snowden (born 1983) Antoine Deltour (born 1985) Stéphanie Gibaud (born 1965) | United States Russia France | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 2016 | Laureate | Nadia Murad (born 1993) Lamiya Haji Bashar (born 1998) | Iraq | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats |
| 2016 | Finalists |
| 2016 | Finalists | Can Dündar (born 1961) | Turkey | Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy, The Left in the European Parliament, and Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2016 | Finalists | Mustafa Dzhemilev (born 1943) | Ukraine | European Conservatives and Reformists Group and European People's Party Group |
| 2016 | Longlists |
| 2016 | Longlists | Ilham Tohti (born 1969) | China | Ilhan Kyuchyuk and 42 other MEPs |
| 2017 | Laureate | Democratic opposition in Venezuela represented by National Assembly and all political prisoners:Julio Borges (born 1969)Leopoldo López (born 1971)Antonio Ledezma (born 1955)Daniel Ceballos (born 1984)Yon Goicoechea (born 1984)Lorent Saleh (born 1988)Alfredo Ramos (born 1955)Andrea González (born ?) | Venezuela | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and European People's Party |
| 2017 | Finalists |
| 2017 | Finalists | Aura Lolita Chavez Ixcaquic (born 1972) | Guatemala | Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2017 | Finalists | Dawit Isaak (born 1964) | Eritrea Sweden | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Cecilia Wikström and 46 other MEPs |
| 2017 | Longlists |
| 2017 | Longlists | Asia Bibi (born 1971) | Pakistan | European Conservatives and Reformists Group |
| 2017 | Longlists | Selahattin Demirtaş (born 1973) Figen Yüksekdağ (born 1971) | Turkey | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 2017 | Longlists | Pierre Claver Mbonimpa (born 1950) | Burundi | Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy |
| 2018 | Laureate | Oleg Sentsov (born 1976) | Ukraine | European People's Party |
| 2018 | Finalists |
| 2018 | Finalists | Nasser Zefzafi (born 1979) | Morocco | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 2018 | Finalists | NGOs protecting human rights and saving migrant lives across the Mediterranean Sea:Boat Refugee Foundation (founded in 2015)Jugend Rettet (founded in 2015)Lifeline Rescue Boat (founded in 2016)Médecins Sans Frontières (founded in 1971)Migrant Offshore Aid Station (founded in 2013)Proactiva Open Arms (founded in 2015)Proem-Aid (founded in 2015)Save the Children (founded in 1919)Sea-Eye (founded in 2015)Sea-Watch (founded in 2015)SOS Méditerranée (founded in 2015) | Germany France Malta Netherlands Spain United Kingdom | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2018 | Longlists |
| 2018 | Longlists | Seyran Ateş (born 1963) | Germany | European Conservatives and Reformists Group |
| 2018 | Longlists | "Caesar", Syrian military photographer (born ?) | Syria | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |
| 2018 | Longlists | Dewayne "Lee" Johnson (born 1972) | United States | Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy |
| 2018 | Longlists | AfriForum (founded in 2006) | South Africa | Europe of Nations and Freedom |
| 2018 | Longlists | Mary Wagner (born 1974) | Canada | Marek Jurek and 41 other MEPs |
| 2019 | Laureate | Ilham Tohti (born 1969) | China | Renew Europe |
| 2019 | Finalists |
| 2019 | Finalists | Marielle Franco (1979–2018) Claudelice Silva dos Santos (born 1982) Raoni Metuktire (born 1932) | Brazil | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and The Left in the European Parliament |
| 2019 | Finalists | The Restorers (founded in 2017) | Kenya | European Conservatives and Reformists Group |
| 2019 | Longlist |
| 2019 | Longlist | Jean Wyllys (born 1974) (nominated jointly with M. Franco) | Brazil | Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2019 | Longlist | Alexei Navalny (1976–2024) | Russia | European People's Party |
| 2020 | Laureate | Democratic opposition in Belarus represented by Coordination Council members:Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (born 1982)Sergei Tikhanovsky (born 1878)Svetlana Alexievich (born 1948)Maria Kalesnikava (born 1982)Olga Kovalkova (born 1984)Veranika Tsapkala (born 1976)Ales Bialiatski (born 1962)Sergei Dylevsky (born 1989)Stsiapan Putsila (born 1998)Mikola Statkevich (born 1956) | Belarus | European Conservatives and Reformists Group, Renew Europe, European People's Party and Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats |
| 2020 | Finalists |
| 2020 | Finalists | Berta Cáceres (1971–2016) Guapinol environmental activists:Porfirio Sorto Cedillo (born 1974)José Avelino Cedillo (born ?)Orbin Naún Hernández (born ?)Kevin Alejandro Romero (born ?)Arnold Javier Aleman (born ?)Ever Alexander Cedillo (born 1991)Daniel Marquez (born ?)Jeremías Martínez Díaz (born ?) | Honduras | Greens–European Free Alliance and The Left in the European Parliament |
| 2020 | Finalists | Najib Mikhael Moussa (born 1955) | Iraq | Identity and Democracy |
| 2020 | Longlists |
| 2020 | Longlists | Polish LGBTI activists:Jakub Gawron (born ?)Paulina Pająk (born 1992)Paweł Preneta (born 1980)Kamil Maczuga (born 1993) | Poland | Malin Björk and 42 other MEPs |
| 2021 | Laureate | Alexei Navalny (1976–2024) | Russia | European People's Party and Renew Europe |
| 2021 | Finalists |
| 2021 | Finalists | Jeanine Áñez (born 1967) | Bolivia | European Conservatives and Reformists Group |
| 2021 | Finalists | Afghan women and human rights activists:Shaharzad Akbar (born 1987)Mary Akrami (born 1975)Zarifa Ghafari (born 1994)Palwasha Hassan (born 1969)Freshta Karim (born 1992)Sahraa Karimi (born 1985)Metra Mehran (born ?)Horia Mosadiq (born 1973)Sima Samar (born 1957)Habiba Sarābi (born 1956)Anisa Shaheed (born 1986) | Afghanistan | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2021 | Longlist |
| 2021 | Longlist | Sultana Khaya (born 1980) | Western Sahara | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 2021 | Longlist | Global Witness (founded in 1993) | United Kingdom | Marie Toussaint and other 42 MEPs |
| 2022 | Laureate | The Ukrainian people represented by: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (born 1978)elected leaders, and civil society | Ukraine | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, European Conservatives and Reformists Group European People's Party Group, and Renew Europe |
| 2022 | Finalists |
| 2022 | Finalists | Julian Assange (born 1971) | Australia | Sabrina Pignedoli and 40 other MEPs |
| 2022 | Finalists | Colombia Truth Commission (founded in 2016) | Colombia | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 2022 | Longlists |
| 2022 | Longlists | Sônia Guajajara (born 1974) | Brazil | Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2022 | Longlists | Shireen Abu Akleh (1971–2022) | Palestine | Grace O'Sullivan and 42 other MEPs |
| 2023 | Laureate | Mahsa Jina Amini (1999–2022) and Woman, Life, Freedom movement (founded in 2022) Women in Iran | Iran | European People's Party, Renew Europe, and Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats |
| 2023 | Finalists |
| 2023 | Finalists | Vilma Núñez (born 1938) Rolando José Álvarez (born 1966) | Nicaragua | Tilly Metz and 42 other MEPs |
| 2023 | Finalists | Women fighting for free, safe and legal abortion: Justyna Wydrzyńska (born 1970)Morena Herrera (born 1960)Colleen McNicholas (born ?) | Poland El Salvador United States | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 2023 | Longlist |
| 2023 | Longlist | Vanessa Nakate (born 1996) | Uganda | Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2023 | Longlist | Elon Musk (born 1971) | United States | Identity and Democracy |
| 2023 | Longlist | Afghan education activists:Marzia Amiri (born ?)Parasto Hakim (born ?)Matiullah Wesa (born 1992–3) | Afghanistan | Petras Auštrevičius and 58 other MEPs |
| 2023 | Longlist | Pro-European people of Georgia Nino Lomjaria (born1984) | Georgia | European Conservatives and Reformists Group |
| 2024 | Laureate | María Corina Machado (born 1967) Edmundo González (born 1949) | Venezuela | European Conservatives and Reformists Group and European People's Party Group |
| 2024 | Finalists |
| 2024 | Finalists | Gubad Ibadoghlu (born 1971) | Azerbaijan | Greens–European Free Alliance |
| 2024 | Finalists | Women Wage Peace (founded in 2014) Women of the Sun (founded in 2021) | Israel Palestine | Renew Europe Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats |
| 2024 | Longlist |
| 2024 | Longlist | Elon Musk (born 1971) | United States | Europe of Sovereign Nations Group and Patriots for Europe |
| 2024 | Longlist | Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip: Hamza Al-Dahdouh (1996–2024)Wael Al-Dahdouh (born 1970)Plestia Alaqad (born 2001)Shireen Abu Akleh (1971–2022)Ain Media in honour of Yaser Murtaja (1987–2018) and Roshdi Sarraj (1992–2023) | Palestine | The Left in the European Parliament |
| 2025 | to be announced on September 2025 | to be announced on September 2025 | to be announced on September 2025 | to be announced on September 2025 |

### Table notes

* ↑ At the time she received the award, Suu Kyi was an opposition politician and a former General Secretary of the National League for Democracy, known for her peaceful struggle against military rule in Myanmar. She personally accepted the award in 2013, after she was released from 15 years of house arrest. In 2020, the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament formally suspended Suu Kyi from the Sakharov Prize Community due to her role in the atrocities against the Rohingya people, but did not revoke the prize itself.
* 1 2 3 The nominations of Adem Demaçi, Chico Mendes and Aziz Nesin in 1990 were eventually removed because it were received after the deadline.
* 1 2 On 12 October 1994, the Committee on Foreign Affairs had decided to only submit nominations of individuals to the Conference of Presidents. Hence, rather than submiting a joint nomination of Mr. and Mrs. Zana, only the nomination of Leyla Zana would be submitted.
* ↑ Tueni was nominated in memory of five prominent Lebanese people who were assassinated in 2005: Gebran Tueni (1957–2005), Rafic Hariri (1944–2005), Bassel Fleihan (1963–2005), Samir Kassir (1960–2005) and George Hawi (1938–2005).
* ↑ Bartholomew I's nomination was subsequently removed from the list after the Patriarch told the Parliament he would not accept it.
* ↑ On 15 December 2010, the prize was awarded to Guillermo Fariñas. However, the Cuban authorities did not allow the laureate to come to Strasbourg, despite the requests of Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament. The latter therefore placed the diploma on an empty chair, covered with a Cuban flag at the dissident's request.
* ↑ Due to infection control measures taken because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of events related to the Sakharov Community were postponed in 2020, including the Sakharov Fellowship, One World in Brussels and the European Youth Event.