In a powerful statement for press freedom, two journalists currently imprisoned—one in Belarus and the other in Georgia—have been jointly awarded the European Union’s most prestigious human rights accolade, the Sakharov Prize. This significant announcement was made by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
Andrzej Poczobut, a respected correspondent for the influential Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza, is currently serving an eight-year sentence in the Novopolotsk penal colony. His conviction stems from charges of “harming Belarus’ national security,” a widely criticized ruling by human rights organizations.
Joining him in this honor is Mzia Amaghlobeli, a prominent Georgian journalist celebrated for founding two of her country’s independent media outlets. Amaghlobeli was sentenced to two years in prison in August following a conviction for allegedly assaulting a police chief during an anti-government demonstration. This case has drawn international condemnation, viewed by rights groups as a blatant attempt to silence independent media.
Addressing the parliament in Strasbourg, France, Ms. Metsola emphasized, “Both are journalists currently incarcerated on fabricated charges simply for performing their professional duties and bravely speaking out against injustice. Their immense courage has transformed them into symbols of the global struggle for freedom and democracy.”
Established in 1988, the annual EU award is named after Andrei Sakharov, the Soviet dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Its purpose is to recognize individuals or groups who tirelessly champion human rights and fundamental freedoms worldwide.
The laureates are carefully selected by senior EU lawmakers from a pool of candidates nominated by the European Parliament’s various political factions. The assembly proudly regards the Sakharov Prize as “the highest tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work.”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader who, alongside her husband Siarhei Tsikhanouski and other opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime, received the prize in 2020, expressed her solidarity. She noted that this year’s award to the journalists “sends a powerful message to all political prisoners that you are not alone, and journalism is never a crime.”
Historically, several Sakharov laureates, including iconic figures like Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Denis Mukwege, and Nadia Murad, have also gone on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Notably, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, received the Sakharov Prize just last year.
The prestigious award, accompanied by a €50,000 ($58,000) endowment, is scheduled to be formally presented during a ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg in December.