European Parliament Awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Courageous Human Rights Defenders
The European Parliament officially announced this year’s laureates of the prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, underscoring their vital contributions to the fight for human rights and democracy worldwide.
This year, the award went to Belarusian journalist Andzej Pochobut and Georgian colleague Mzia Amaglobeli, recognized for their bravery and resilience in confronting authoritarian regimes.
Both laureates are currently imprisoned, facing fabricated charges aimed solely at silencing their activism.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola emphasized: “Their courage has become a symbol of the fight for freedom, and they truly deserve this recognition.” The award ceremony, which includes a monetary prize of €50,000, will take place on December 16 in Strasbourg during the plenary session.
Due to their imprisonment, the prize will likely be received by their relatives.
Pochobut, an opposition journalist and activist from Belarus, has repeatedly criticized the Belarusian government under Alexander Lukashenko.
He spent nearly three months in detention in 2011 and was sentenced in 2023 to eight years for charges including incitement of hostility and calls for actions harmful to the state.
Mzia Amaglobeli, a prominent Georgian journalist and co-founder of independent outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, focusing on corruption and human rights violations, was detained during a protest in Batumi on January 11, 2025.
She was accused of assaulting a police officer and sentenced in August to two years in prison for resisting law enforcement.
In addition to them, the nominations included representatives of international humanitarian and human rights organizations, as well as Serbian students.
The Sakharov Prize, named after Soviet physicist and human rights advocate Andrei Sakharov, has been awarded since 1988, with first recipients including Nelson Mandela and Anatoly Marchenko.
Last year, the Ukrainian people, together with President Zelensky, received the prize for their significant contribution to defending human rights and freedoms.