Madar (International) - The European Parliament on Thursday, October 22, 2026, awarded its 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought collectively to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its officials, according to a statement from the Parliament.
"The European Union is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions. With the award of the Sakharov prize to the International Criminal Court and its officials, the European Parliament recognises the Court's important work in upholding international law and justice," Parliament President Roberta Metsola said as she announced the laureate in the chamber.
The award highlights the court's work, including investigations, prosecutions, trials and the issuance or authorisation of arrest warrants, the statement said. In earlier reports, MEPs had expressed "deep concern" at the growing threats and waves of sanctions imposed since 2025 on the ICC, "notably by the USA", and on its prosecutors, judges and staff, calling them serious attacks on the international justice system, and urged the European Commission to activate the EU's blocking statute to protect court officials.
Governed by the Rome Statute, the ICC is the world's first permanent international criminal court; it investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso announced their withdrawal from the court in September 2025.
Established in 1988 and named after Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, the prize is awarded annually to individuals or organisations for their work defending human rights, freedom of expression, minority rights, international law, democracy and the rule of law. The 2026 prize will be presented in December in Strasbourg during Parliament's plenary session.