Kirk had been nominated for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the party group within the far-right dominated by the German AFD, but did not qualify among the three finalists.
Instead, those selected are Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut together with Georgian colleague Mzia Amaglobleli (nominated by the right-wing groups ECR and EPP), the Serbian student movement (nominated by the liberal RE) and journalists and aid workers in Palestine and other conflict areas (nominated by the social democratic S&D).
Who or what will receive the prize will be decided by the Speaker and group leaders next week. Last year, the Sakharov Prize went to, among others, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado - who was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last week.
