” “The list of nominations for the 2007 Sacharov Award is due to be announced today, at the end of the joint meeting of the parliamentary commissions for development and human rights. The Award "to free thinking" has been given every year since 1988 to "people and organisations that have distinguished themselves in the fight against intolerance, fanaticism and oppression". The final decision about the winner will be taken by the Conference of the presidents of the political groups who are at Strasbourg Parliament, and the award will be given during the plenary session in December. According to the rules, the winner (or winners) will receive a certificate and a 50-thousand-euro cheque. Four are the spheres of action in which the nominees must have distinguished themselves: "defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially the right to freedom of expression"; "protection of the rights of minorities"; "respect of international law"; "development of democracy and assertion of the principle of the constitutional state". The golden list of the Sacharov Award includes Nelson Mandela, Alexander Dubcek, the mothers of Plaza de Mayo, Ibrahim Rugova, the UN staff, the Damas de blanco, Reporters without frontiers, Liela Zana, the Belarus press association.” “
