Poczobut wins Sakharov Prize

October 22, Pozirk. Jailed journalists Andrzej Poczobut in Belarus and Mzia Amaglobeli in Georgia have won the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced.
Poczobut was nominated by the European People’s Party Group and the European Conservatives and Reformists Group.
“He is a journalist, essayist and blogger from the Polish minority in Belarus, known for his criticism of Alaksandar Łukašenka’s regime and has become a symbolic figure in the struggle for freedom and democracy in the country,” MEPs said.
Poczobut was repeatedly arrested and given eight years in prison after being detained in 2021. He has often been held in solitary confinement without proper medical care with his current health situation unknown. MEPs demanded his immediate and unconditional release.
Every year, the European Parliament awards the Sakharov Prize to outstanding people and organizations who defend human rights and fight for democracy and the rule of law. This year’s nominees included journalists in Palestine, Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal and Budapest Pride.
Poczobut held in penal colony’s isolation wing amid health decline
- SocietyBelarus simplifies driving licence procedures for foreignersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsSeats on opposition Coordination Council up for grabsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus’ foreign minister meets with officials in OmanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus bans content of defunct VoA Russian service for distributionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsInformation ministry suspends Belarusian-language publisher's distribution licenseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁatuška meets with Council of Europe officials to share evidence of alleged Łukasenka crimesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityDefense minister: NATO continues preparing for warThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLatvian intelligence estimates Belarus’ army strength at 50,000The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLithuania reports surge in irregular border crossing attemptsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyUpper house approves fines for propaganda of homosexualityThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics
- Politics, SocietyLithuania suspects dozens of facilitating cigarette smuggling from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyLithuania’s president lists conditions for engagement with MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecuritySweden's army commander inspects defenses at Lithuanian-Belarusian borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- EconomyRubel drops 3.2 percent against US dollar at cash exchange offices in MarchThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja’s aide meets special envoy Coale in WashingtonThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsGeologist skeptical of Łukašenka’s expectations for discovery of new oil depositsThe material is available only to POZIRK+



