Two journalists, Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus and Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia, have been named the 2025 laureates of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The award will be presented by the European Parliament on December 16.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced the winners in Strasbourg, stating: “By awarding this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus and Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia, we honour two journalists whose courage shines as a beacon for all who refuse to be silenced. Both have paid a heavy price for speaking truth to power, becoming symbols of the struggle for freedom and democracy. The Parliament stands with them, and with all those who continue to demand freedom.”
Andrzej Poczobut is recognized as a journalist, essayist, blogger, and activist representing the Polish minority in Belarus. He has faced repeated arrests due to his criticism of the Lukashenka government and advocacy on human rights issues. Detained since 2021 and sentenced to eight years in a penal colony, his health has worsened during imprisonment without adequate medical care. His current condition is unknown and family visits are not permitted.
The European Parliament previously adopted a resolution on March 15, 2023 calling for Poczobut’s immediate release, describing charges against him as “politically motivated” and intended to silence independent voices.
Mzia Amaglobeli serves as director of online media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti in Georgia. She was arrested in January 2025 after participating in anti-government protests and was sentenced in August to two years’ imprisonment on what were described as political grounds. As Georgia’s first female political prisoner since independence, she has become an important figure for pro-democracy movements opposing the ‘Georgian Dream’ party following disputed elections in October 2024.
A European Parliament resolution passed on June 19, 2025 called for her immediate release and condemned what it termed “the Georgian Dream regime’s systemic attacks on democratic institutions, political opposition, independent media, civil society and the independence of the judiciary”.
The European Parliament maintains support for democratic movements in both Belarus and Georgia. In May 2024, President Metsola signed an agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation between Parliament and democratic groups in Belarus. On October 22, 2025 prominent Belarusian opposition leaders Sergey Tihanovski and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya were welcomed at a formal plenary session during which another resolution addressing Belarus was adopted.
In November 2024, following contested elections in Georgia, Parliament called for new elections. By July 2025 it had also condemned repression within Georgia’s government and urged sanctions against key officials while recommending that the European Commission review EU-Georgia agreements.
Established in 1988 and named after Soviet physicist Andrei Sakharov, the Sakharov Prize represents the EU’s highest recognition for contributions to human rights and democracy. Several recipients have later received Nobel Peace Prizes; recent examples include Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela (awarded both prizes in consecutive years), Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Denis Mukwege, Nadia Mourad, Ales Bialiatski and Oleksandra Matviichuk.
For a list of previous Sakharov Prize laureates see here.
