The 2025 Sakharov Prize: A call for solidarity with journalists fighting for freedom

I had the privilege of meeting Jana Poczobut and Irma Dimitradze, who were at the European Parliament to accept the Sakharov Prize on behalf of the two laureates: Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus and Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia.

The Sakharov Prize is the EU's highest tribute to human rights, awarded this year to these two journalists who are currently behind bars in their respective countries due to their journalistic work and their struggle for freedom of expression. Andrzej Poczobut is a journalist and activist for the Polish minority in Belarus, imprisoned since 2021 for his criticism of the Lukashenka regime. Mzia Amaglobeli is a Georgian journalist, sentenced in 2025 by the pro-Russian authoritarian regime in Georgia. Their messages resonated today in the European Parliament as a call for solidarity and support for those who dare to stand with dignity, fighting for freedom in all its forms.