LLLP at the Sakharov Prize 2025!

Named after Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, the 'Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought' is the EU’s highest human rights award. For almost 40 years, it has been consistently given out to recognise individuals and organisations that distinguished themselves in the fight for human rights and, in particular, in the fight for the freedom of expression. 

In a heartfelt ceremony in Strasbourg on 17 December, EP President Roberta Metsola awarded the Sakharov Prize to representatives of Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus, and Mzia Amaglobeli representing the Georgian pro-democracy protest movement. 

During the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought award ceremony on Tuesday, 16 December, in Strasbourg, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola declared her pride in the recipients. "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.", she said. Emphasizing the Parliament's support, she added, "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 prize honors Poczobut and Amaglobeli's courage in defending freedom of expression despite violent repression.

The Lifelong Learning Platform was lucky enough to be selected among a pool of stakeholders to attend the ceremony, thanks to the support of the European Parliament. Among other civil society organisations, LLLP could witness a moment of true European democracy in action.