CARACAS : Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has dedicated her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to the people of Venezuela, describing it as a tribute to their “admirable courage, dignity, intelligence, and love” in the face of decades of oppression.

In an emotional letter dated October 10, 2025, Machado said she accepted the award “on behalf of the people of Venezuela,” recalling 26 years of “violence and humiliation at the hands of a tyranny obsessed with subjugating citizens and crushing the nation’s spirit.” She accused the regime of committing Crimes Against Humanity, citing torture, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions.

Despite the suffering, Machado said Venezuelans had responded with unity and resilience:

“The people’s response has been firm and unyielding. We have forged a formidable civic movement, overcome the barriers the regime built to divide us, and united the nation in one powerful yearning — Peace in Freedom.”

She described the Nobel Peace Prize as a “unique impetus” that strengthens Venezuelans’ resolve to complete their journey toward democracy, adding that global recognition of their struggle demonstrates that “the world understands and shares our fight.”

Machado also expressed deep gratitude to Venezuela’s international allies and democratic partners, writing: “To the peoples of the Americas and the world, and to your brave leaders who stand with us, I convey my deepest gratitude from the bottom of my heart. The history of Venezuela will write your names indelibly.”

Reaffirming her belief that freedom is inseparable from peace, Machado said Venezuela’s liberation would inspire courage and hope across the Americas.

“Our people understood that there can be no Peace without Freedom… Venezuela will be free, and this achievement will propagate courage and hope throughout the Americas.”

Concluding her address, she dedicated the award to every Venezuelan: “This award is yours. It is a recognition of what we have achieved together and a reminder of what still remains.”

Machado ended her message on a note of faith and determination: “Now, we advance with even greater strength, confidence, and unwavering faith — because we go hand in hand with God, until the end.”

The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded María Corina Machado the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her unwavering commitment to democracy and human rights, recognizing her as a symbol of resistance against authoritarian rule in Latin America.

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