The Board of Directors of the National Endowment for Democracy is honored to host the 2015 Democracy Award honoring Political Prisoners of Venezuela.

Accepting on behalf of Venezuela’s imprisoned political leaders, human rights defenders, labor unionists, and student activists:

• Mitzy Capriles de Ledezma, wife of Antonio Ledezma
• Lilian Tintori, wife of Leopoldo López
• Tamara Sujú, Venezuelan human rights defender

A month after President Hugo Chavez’s death in March 2013, his handpicked successor, Nicolas Maduro, took office following a controversial and flawed election. Mass protests against Maduro’s regime in February 2014 were met with brutal repression: more than 1,000 demonstrators were arrested, protestors faced violent attacks from chavista colectivos, access to social media was restricted, and several opposition leaders and civil society activists including students, labor activists, and human rights defenders remain in jail more than a year later.

On Thursday, May 14, the National Endowment for Democracy honored the brave struggle of Venezuela’s Political Prisoners with the 2015 Democracy Award.

The 2015 Democracy Awards from National Endowment for Democracy on Vimeo.

Transcripts:

• Tribute to Leopoldo Lopez
• Lilian Tintori’s Remarks (English) (Espanol)

Related Content:

• National Endowment for Democracy Honors Venezuela’s Political Prisoners with 2015 Democracy Award
• Resurgent Dictatorship
• Journal of Democracy: The Authoritarian Resurgence
• Accidental Face of Venezuelan Opposition Lilian Tintori

Sponsors
The Hurford Foundation

Benefactors
Robert Tuttle
The Nelson Family Foundation

Supporters
United Steelworkers
Taiwanese Economic and Cultural Representative Office

Donors
International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
Princeton Lyman
Andrew Nathan
Robert Zoellick
Margaret Spellings