THE SAKHAROV PRIZEEvery year, the European Parliament awards the Sakharov Prize to honour and celebrate exceptional individuals and organisations for their effort to combat intolerance, fanaticism and oppression.The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, established in 1988 by the European Parliament, was named after Andrei Sakharov. Among the 33 laureates, the Sakharov Prize has distinguished some of the most famous historic characters of our times, including Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, Kofi Annan and Aliaksander Milinkevich.THE ‘SAKHAROV’ EXPERIENCEThe "Sakharov experience", on exhibition in the Parlamentarium, the European Parliament's Visitors’ Center, from 15 November 2012, is a unique opportunity to discover those who have been recognised for their courage in fighting for fundamental and human rights, the Sakharov prize laureates. The European Parliament invites you to see for yourself what people who resist oppression can be subjected to. The experience will give you a small insight into what the Sakharov Prize laureates endure in their everyday struggle."Andrei Dmitrievich SakharovRussian physicist Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov (1921-1989) was the father of the Soviet hydrogen bomb. He sought to raise awareness of the dangers of the nuclear arms race. In theUSSR, Sakharov was seen as a subversive dissident. In 1975 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his efforts.