2025 Sakharov Prize: Parliament honours Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli

President Metsola awarded the 2025 Sakharov Prize to the representatives of the two journalists, who are imprisoned in Belarus and Georgia, at a ceremony on Tuesday in Strasbourg.

At the award ceremony for the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on Tuesday 16 December in Strasbourg, President Roberta Metsola said: "I am proud to award this year’s Sakharov Prize to journalists Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli in recognition of their brave fight for freedom of expression and the democratic future of Belarus and Georgia. This House stands in solidarity with Mzia and Andrzej and calls for their immediate release from prison — because speaking truth to power must never be a crime."

Andrzej Poczobut, journalist imprisoned in Belarus

Andrzej Poczobut, journalist, essayist, blogger and member of the Polish minority in Belarus, was represented by his daughter, Jana Poczobut, who said to the MEPs: "It is a great honour to stand here today and accept this award on behalf of my father. (...) For almost five years now, my family has lived with silence, uncertainty, and the absence of someone we love. And today I want to express my deepest gratitude to the European Parliament for remembering him — and for remembering all families who live with the same unanswered questions."

Referring to the case of Mikalai Statkevich, a prominent member of the Belarusian opposition who disappeared in September 2025, she added: "When we speak (their) names out loud, they stop being statistics. They become real again. And that is why your attention, the attention of the European Parliament, matters so much. It preserves human dignity where everything else tries to erase it."

MEPs have adopted several resolutions condemning the repression in Belarus, demanding the release of political prisoners (estimated at over 1,200), denouncing President Lukashenka’s complicity with Russia in the war in Ukraine, and calling for tougher sanctions and support for Belarusian democratic forces, independent media and human rights defenders. Parliament is a strong supporter of the democratic opposition in Belarus and awarded it the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2020. MEPs adopted a resolution on the case of Andrzej Poczobut in March 2023.

Mzia Amaglobeli, journalist imprisoned in Georgia

Mzia Amaglobeli, Georgian journalist, co-founder and director of independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was represented by her fellow journalist Irma Dimitradze who also works for Batumelebi.

She read a speech from Mzia Amaglobeli to the Members: "I accept (this award) on behalf of my colleagues, the journalists who are now fighting in Georgia to save journalism as such. They work tirelessly to make sure that you hear the voice of resistance of Georgia’s citizens, that the truth is not silenced."

Referring to the authorities in her home country, Mzia Amaglobeli wrote "This regime is ruthless (...). It destroys free journalism, abolishes opposition political parties and imprisons their leaders, effectively dismantles non-governmental organisations, labels those who work in them as “foreign agents (...). Yet it has failed to silence the protests. Perhaps this is why the European Union’s statements in support of the Georgian people have been stronger and more precise than ever. And for this, I am deeply grateful."

After referring the Georgian people’s aspirations to EU membership, she concluded her speech underlining: "The fate of our struggle does not depend on us alone, because our struggle is not only about us. (...) Fight with us and for us. Fight as you would fight for the freedom of your own countries. Use every mechanism at your disposal and do so before it is too late."

Regarding Georgia, a candidate for EU membership since 2023, MEPs have strongly condemned the significant democratic backsliding in the country and denounced repressive laws (such as the law on ‘foreign agents’), attacks on freedom of expression and the press, and the repression of peaceful protests.

MEPs have also called for a rerun of the October 2024 elections, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party declared victory. They have denounced Russian influence in the country and demanded the release of detainees. MEPs nevertheless advocate for a membership perspective to be maintained, conditional on reforms and respect for the rule of law and ask for personal sanctions to be imposed on those responsible for the violence.

A resolution was adopted in June 2025 on press freedom in Georgia and the personal case of Mzia Amaglobeli.

Background

Named after Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the EU’s highest distinction in the field of human rights. Since 1988, it has been awarded by Parliament to individuals, groups or organisations every year, in recognition of their work defending human rights, freedom of expression and democratic values. It includes €50,000 in prize money.

Several journalists, media and press freedom organisations have received the Prize, including the non-governmental organisation Reporters Without Borders in 2005, the Belarusian Association of Journalists in 2004, the Algerian journalist and writer Salima Ghezali in 1997 and the popular newspaper Oslobodenje, which promoted a multi-ethnic vision of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1993. Parliament also demonstrates its unwavering support for investigative journalism and the importance of press freedom by presenting annually the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism, in honour of the Maltese journalist assassinated in 2017.

To find the list of all previous laureates and other information, please consult Parliament's Sakharov Prize website. The recording of the ceremony can be viewed on Parliament’s Multimedia Centre website.