Belarusian political prisoner Andrzej Poczobut and Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli have been named the laureates of the 2025 Sakharov Prize.
The winners were announced today by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola during a plenary session of the European Parliament.
“They are both journalists currently imprisoned on fabricated charges simply for doing their jobs and speaking out against injustice. Their courage has made them symbols of the fight for freedom and democracy,” Metsola said.
In February 2023, journalist Andrzej Poczobut was sentenced to eight years in a high-security colony. The trial was held behind closed doors. He was found guilty of inciting hatred and calling for sanctions. Poczobut is serving his sentence in a colony in Novopolotsk.
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was established in 1988. It is awarded annually by the European Parliament to individuals who have made “an exceptional contribution to the fight for human rights across the globe.”