Yulia Navalnaya Receives FAES Freedom Award in Madrid

On October 16, Yulia Navalnaya received the Freedom Award from the Spanish foundation FAES at a ceremony in Madrid. She shared the award with Iranian women's rights activist Masih Alinejad and Cuban dissident Rosa María Payá.

In her acceptance speech, Navalnaya emphasized that despite the differences between Russia, Iran, and Cuba, the people of these countries share the experience of living under dictatorship and fighting for their rights. She called on human rights activists and pro-democracy movements around the world to stand together and cooperate in the struggle for freedom.

Masih Alinejad is known for her advocacy for women's rights in Iran and her outspoken criticism of the Iranian regime. She has repeatedly been targeted in assassination plots linked to the Iranian authorities. Rosa María Payá is a Cuban human rights activist, founder of the Cuba Decide movement, and daughter of Oswaldo Payá, a prominent Cuban opposition leader who died in 2012.

The FAES Freedom Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the defense of freedom, democracy, and human rights. This year's award marks the 13th edition of the prize. The foundation's Board of Trustees unanimously voted to honor Yulia Navalnaya, Masih Alinejad, and Rosa María Payá.

FAES is a Spanish think tank headed by former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar. The award was established in 2009. Previous recipients include Margaret Thatcher, Shimon Peres, and Mario Vargas Llosa.