Greens candidate Hu Jia tops Sakharov shortlist: Sakharov prize
Hu Jia, the imprisoned Chinese dissident active on diverse issues such as civil liberties, environmental protection and HIV/AIDS, is one of the three candidates retained for the Sakharov prize shortlist. He came top in the voting that took place in the European parliament's foreign affairs and development committees yesterday evening, ahead of fellow nominees Alexander Kozulin from Belarus and Abbot Appollinaire Malu Malu from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Daniel Cohn-Bendit, co-president of the Greens/EFA Group in the European parliament, commented:
"We are delighted at the emphatic nomination of Hu Jia. He was our candidate together with his wife Jinyan last year, but disappointingly few MEPs gave their backing. This vote shows that since the Olympic Games in Beijing, the spotlight has fallen on human rights in China and the intolerable situation of those who fight for respect and freedom in this country."
(1) The final decision regarding the winner of the Sakharov prize will be taken in mid October by the Conference of Presidents (leaders of the political groups) and the President of the European parliament.
