EU Awards Top Human Rights Prize to Imprisoned Journalists

EU Honors Imprisoned Journalists from Belarus and Georgia

The European Union has awarded its prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to two imprisoned journalists - Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus and Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced the winners on October 22, 2025, recognizing both journalists for their courage in speaking truth to power despite facing imprisonment on what she described as 'trumped-up charges, simply for doing their work and because they speak out against injustice'.

The 2025 Laureates: Profiles in Courage

Andrzej Poczobut, a 52-year-old Polish-Belarusian journalist working for Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza, has been serving an eight-year sentence since his 2023 conviction for allegedly 'harming Belarus' national security'. His reporting on the massive 2020 protests following Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election made him a target of the authoritarian regime. Currently held in solitary confinement at Penal Colony No. 1 in Novopolotsk, Poczobut's health has reportedly deteriorated significantly without adequate medical care.

Mzia Amaglobeli, co-founder of independent Georgian media outlets Netgazeti and Batumelebi, was sentenced to two years in prison in August 2025 for allegedly resisting law enforcement during anti-government protests. The 48-year-old journalist has become Georgia's first female political prisoner since the country gained independence in 1991. Her case has drawn condemnation from international human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders, who describe the charges as politically motivated.

What is the Sakharov Prize?

Established in 1988 and named after Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, the Sakharov Prize represents the European Union's highest honor for human rights defenders. The award includes a €50,000 endowment and is selected through a rigorous nomination process involving members of the European Parliament. Previous laureates include Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, and seven recipients who later won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Broader Context: Press Freedom Under Threat

The awards come amid growing concerns about press freedom in both countries. In Belarus, Lukashenko's regime has systematically dismantled independent media since the 2020 protests, with thousands of journalists and activists facing persecution. As one European Parliament member noted, 'Poczobut's case represents the systematic silencing of critical voices in Belarus'.

In Georgia, the ruling Georgian Dream party has faced increasing criticism for backsliding on democratic reforms. The European Union has repeatedly called for new elections following disputed 2024 parliamentary elections that opposition parties and international observers claim were marred by fraud and voter intimidation.

The award ceremony will take place in Strasbourg on December 16, 2025, though it remains uncertain whether either journalist will be able to attend given their imprisonment. As Metsola emphasized, 'The courage of these journalists to speak out against injustice, even behind bars, is a powerful symbol of freedom and democracy'.