Speaking in Belarusian, Mr Milinkevich began his address to Parliament by expressing his thanks for the award, saying the prize was not for him alone but for all the Belarusians who are continuing their struggle for Belarus to rejoin the family of democratic European nations.
"Šī balva nav man vienam — balvu kopā ar mani saņem visi baltkrievi, kas pagājušajā gada martā bija Centrālajā laukumā [Minskā], tiem, kas ieslodzīti cietumos, atskaitīti no universitātēm, atlaisti no darba.