Dzhemilev was shortlisted this year’s nominee for the Sakharov Prize

The European Parliament has decided a short list of nominees to the annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on October 6.

There is among the candidates the Crimean Tatar politician, Mustafa Dzhemilev who has condemned the Russian occupation in Crimea and now lives in Kiev. Dzhemilev was nominated to the award by the largest political bloc of the European Parliament − the European People's Party. It is reported by Radio Svoboda.

Another nominee has become Can Dündar, the former editor-in-chief of the Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet. Dündar was arrested last November after his newspaper published footage showing Turkey's illegally delivering arms to rebels in Syria.

Also the advocate of the Uyghur minority sentenced to life imprisonment in the People's Republic of China, Ilham Tohti was shortlisted nominees.

The nominees were as well Nadia Murad Basee and Lamiya Aji Bashar, the advocates for the Yazidi community and women who are victims of Islamic State sexual enslavement and atrocities.

The European Parliament will announce the laureate on October 27. The award ceremony will take place in Strasbourg in December.

The 50,000 euro prize established by the European Parliament in 1988 is annually awarded to individuals or groups of people who have dedicated their lives to the fight for human rights and freedom of speech.

Over the years it became laureates Nelson Mandela, the Belarusian Association of journalists, «Reporters Without Borders» and the Russian Human Rights Society «Memorial».