Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang, expressing "strong dissatisfaction and stern opposition" to the award, said, "Hu is a convicted criminal who is now in jail for subverting the state," Xinhua reported.

The prize, given by the European Parliament, is named for noted Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov and its previous winners include former South African President Nelson Mandela and Cuban dissident Oswaldo Paya.

Hu remains imprisoned in China after being sentenced in April for "subversion," the report said. His contributions include fighting for human rights and against government abuses and bringing attention to environmental degradation and the plight of Chinese HIV-Aids sufferers, it said.

Xinhua reported the 34-year-old Hu, an unemployed father, was accused of libeling the Chinese political and social systems, and instigated subversion against the state.

Qin said the award to him fabricates the facts and confuses the truth.