BRUSSELS, Oct 10 (KUNA) -- The Swedish Academy announced on Friday that it has awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan politician Maria Corina Machado, in recognition of "her courage and commitment in defending peace and democracy and for keeping the flame of freedom burning amid growing darkness." The Academy said in its statement that "Maria Corina Machado receives the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 for her tireless work in promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy." It added that as leader of the democracy movement in Venezuela, Machado is considered "one of the most prominent examples of civil courage in Latin America in recent years." (end) arn.mt