Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus and Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia,&nbsp;two journalists, imprisoned in Belarus and Georgia, are the laureates of the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

President Metsola awarded the 2025 Sakharov Prize to the representatives of the two journalists at a ceremony&nbsp;in Strasbourg.

At the award ceremony for the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought ,&nbsp;President Roberta Metsola said: "I am proud to award this year’s Sakharov Prize to journalists Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli in recognition of their brave fight for freedom of expression and the democratic future of Belarus and Georgia. This House stands in solidarity with Mzia and Andrzej and calls for their immediate release from prison — because speaking truth to power must never be a crime." 
 
The other two finalists were: Journalists and Humanitarian Aid Workers in Palestine and all conflict zones, represented by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, the Red Crescent, and UNRWA; Serbian students. 
 
The award ceremony for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, which includes an allocation of 50,000 euros, took&nbsp;place on Tuesday 16 December 2025 in Strasbourg.

Awarded for the first time in 1988 to Nelson Mandela and Anatoli Marchenko, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the highest tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work. It gives recognition to individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to protecting freedom of thought. Through the prize and its associated network the EU assists laureates, who are supported and empowered in their efforts to defend their causes.

Sakharov Prize

Sakharov Prize 2025

Opening statements by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, on the release of journalist and activist Andrzej POCZOBUT

Reactions by Roberta METSOLA, EP President on the release of Andrzej Poczobut, 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to journalists

Sakharov Prize 2025 - Malgorzata Gosiewska, Chair of the Delegation for relations with Belarus, meets with of Andrzej Poczobut’s representatives

Side Event to the Sakharov Prize ceremony on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel

Sakharov Prize 2025 - Panel with Content Creators

EP Plenary session - Award of the 2025 Sakharov Prize

Award of the 2025 Sakharov Prize: speech by Irma DIMITRADZE, representative of the imprisoned journalist Mzia AMAGLOBELI from Georgia

Award of the 2025 Sakharov Prize: handover of the diplomas to the laureates representatives and family photo

Award of the 2025 Sakharov Prize: speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Award of the 2025 Sakharov Prize: video about the laureates, journalists Mzia AMAGLOBELI from Georgia and Andrzej POCZOBUT from Belarus

Award of the 2025 Sakharov Prize: speech by Jana POCZOBUT, daughter of the imprisoned journalist Andrzej POCZOBUT from Belarus

Award of the 2025 Sakharov Prize: opening of the ceremony and welcoming the representatives of the 2025 laureates by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2025

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2025

Announcement of  the laureate of the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

Sakharov Prize 2025: Vote on a shortlist of 3 candidates

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Anna KIETLINSKA and Irma DIMITRADZE Sakharov Prize 2025 awardees representatives

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2025: meeting between Roberta METSOLA, EP President and the laureates and extracts from the ceremony

Award of the 2025 Sakharov Prize: statement by Professor Aleksandar Kavčić

Award of the 2025 Sakharov Prize - Journalists and Humanitarian Aid Workers in Palestine and all conflict zones: statements by Marc Lassouaoui, Dr Younis Al-Khatib and Nasser Abu Bakr

Award of the 2025 Sakharov Prize: statement by Anna Kietlińska, representative of Andrzej POCZOBUT, Sakharov Prize 2025 laureate

Award of the 2025 Sakharov Prize: statement by Irma Dimitradze, representative of Mzia AMAGLOBELI, Sakharov Prize 2025 laureate

Infoclip: Mzia AMAGLOBELI, Georgian journalist - Sakharov Prize 2025 laureate

Imprisoned journalists fighting for your freedom and ours, Andrzej POCZOBUT from Belarus and Mzia AMAGLOBELI from Georgia awarded 2025 Sakharov Laureates: roundtable at the Conference of Presidents, extracts from the announcement by Roberta MESTOLA

Announcement of the Sakharov Prize 2025 laureate

Infoclip: Andrzej POCZOBUT, Polish journalist in Belarus - Sakharov Prize 2025 Laureate

Announcement of the 3 finalists for Sakharov Prize 2025: statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Chair, Barry ANDREWS (Renew, IE), DEVE Chair and Mounir SATOURI (Greens/EFA, FR), DROI Chair

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