“Our message to the 2025 Sakharov Prize laureates, Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli, is that the European Parliament will continue to speak up for all those who long for freedom,” Metsola added.
The award was granted to Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut and Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, both serving prison sentences for their work.
The European Parliament emphasised that the honour recognises their bravery and calls for the release of all political prisoners.
Poczobut, jailed by the Belarusian regime of Alexander Lukashenko in 2021 and sentenced to eight years in a high-security penal colony for “activities harming the interests of the state,” was represented by his daughter Jana, who accepted the prize on his behalf.
She described it as a profound honour and expressed gratitude to the Parliament for keeping her father’s plight in the public eye, noting that her family has lived for nearly five years in uncertainty and silence without him.
Members of the European Parliament have awarded the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the imprisoned journalists Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus and Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia. The award ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 16 December 2025. Photo: Ronald Wittek/PAP/EPA
Amaglobeli, currently jailed in Georgia, was represented by fellow journalist Irma Dimitradze, who read her acceptance speech.
Amaglobeli dedicated the award to other media workers striving to preserve journalism, stressing their role in amplifying the voices of Georgian citizens and ensuring the truth is not silenced.
The jailed journalist criticised Georgia’s authorities for suppressing independent journalism, dismantling opposition parties, imprisoning their leaders and targeting civil society organisations, while noting that public protests have persisted.
Since becoming an EU candidate in 2023, Georgia has faced criticism from MEPs for democratic backsliding, press restrictions and the repression of peaceful demonstrations.
European lawmakers have repeatedly called for fresh elections and the protection of fundamental democratic rights.
A sign shows the laureates of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 16 December 2025. Photo: RONALD WITTEK/PAP/EPA
Established in 1988, the Sakharov Prize is the European Union’s highest honour in the field of human rights, awarded to individuals and organisations that defend freedom of expression, human rights, and democracy.
Previous laureates include former South African President Nelson Mandela, the organisation Reporters Without Borders, and anti-Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
The European Parliament underlined that it will continue to stand up for those who fight for freedom, sending a clear message of solidarity to all who face persecution for defending democracy and human rights.
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Source: X/@EP_President/@Europarl_EN/@europarlAV/IAR/PAP
Click on the audio player above for a report by Agnieszka Łaszczuk.