Stand Up for Europe at the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought Ceremony

Between 15 and 17 December 2025, Stand Up for Europe took part in the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought Award Ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, joining Members of the European Parliament, Sakharov Prize laureates and finalists, and civil society organisations from across Europe and beyond.

The annual Sakharov Prize ceremony is not only a moment of recognition, but also a powerful political and moral statement: it affirms that the defence of human rights, freedom of expression, and democratic values remains at the heart of the European project, especially when these principles are under attack in an increasing number of places.

Established in 1988 by the European Parliament, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought honours individuals and organisations who demonstrate exceptional courage in defending fundamental rights, often at great personal risk. Named after Andrei Sakharov, the physicist turned human rights advocate, the Prize symbolises resistance to oppression and the enduring power of free thought.

Each year, the Sakharov Prize draws international attention to struggles that might otherwise be silenced, ensuring that imprisoned journalists, persecuted activists, and threatened civil society actors are not forgotten. The 2025 edition once again underscored the Prize’s role as a platform for solidarity and accountability

Honouring the 2025 Laureates: Journalism Under Repression

At the formal award ceremony held on 16 December in the European Parliament’s hemicycle, the Prize was awarded to two imprisoned journalists whose work exemplifies integrity, resilience, and commitment to truth.

Andrzej Poczobut, a journalist, essayist, and activist from the Polish minority in Belarus, has spent years documenting human rights violations and challenging state propaganda. Detained since 2021 and sentenced to eight years in a penal colony, he remains imprisoned under harsh conditions, with limited access to medical care and no contact with his family. His case highlights the systematic repression of independent voices in Belarus.

Mzia Amaglobeli, a Georgian journalist and founder of independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was arrested in early 2025 and later sentenced on politically motivated charges. As the first female political prisoner in Georgia since independence, she has become a symbol of resistance against democratic backsliding, media repression, and the erosion of judicial independence following contested elections.

Why the Sakharov Prize Matters Today

At a time of shrinking civic space, rising authoritarianism, and increasing attacks on independent media, the Sakharov Prize remains a moral compass for Europe’s external and internal action.

The discussions in Strasbourg therefore reaffirm that defending freedom of thought is inseparable from defending democracy itself. This also serves as a reminder that civil society organisations, journalists, and activists are indispensable partners in this effort and that their protection must be translated into concrete political action. As long as journalists are imprisoned for their words and activists persecuted for their beliefs, standing up for freedom of thought in Europe and beyond remains not only necessary, but urgent.