Sakharov Prize awarded to ICC

The European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize for 2026 to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday. This prize honors individuals or organizations that fight for democracy and freedom of thought, and it is named after the Russian physicist and Nobel laureate Andrei Sakharov.

Metsola highlights ICC's challenges

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced the award and noted that the ICC is currently facing scrutiny from U.S. President Donald Trump. She emphasized that the European Union values multilateralism and international institutions as cornerstones of its policies.

Trump's criticism of ICC

The decision to award the prize follows criticism of Trump’s attacks on the ICC, which is based in the Netherlands. European lawmakers have expressed concern over Trump’s rhetoric and actions toward the court, which they view as undermining international justice.

U.S. sanctions against ICC

At the beginning of October, the United States imposed sanctions on the ICC, a move that has drawn strong reactions from European officials. These sanctions are part of Trump’s broader criticism of the court’s role in international law and its investigations into alleged war crimes.