Journalists Awarded Sakharov Prize for Human Rights Courage

Two journalists have been honored with the European Union's prestigious Sakharov Prize for their unwavering dedication to human rights. Andrzej Poczobut, currently detained in Belarus, and Mzia Amaghlobeli, imprisoned in Georgia, were recognized by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Wednesday.

Poczobut, a correspondent for the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza, is serving an eight-year sentence in Belarus on charges of undermining national security. Meanwhile, Amaghlobeli, a significant figure in Georgia's media landscape, was sentenced to two years for her involvement in an anti-government protest, a case widely criticized by rights groups as a ploy to suppress media freedom.

The annual Sakharov Prize, named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, acknowledges individuals or groups fighting for human rights. This year's award, decided by senior EU lawmakers, serves as a powerful statement against the unjust imprisonment of journalists and advocates for their cause globally.