Andrzej Poczobut, writer and activist of the Polish number in Belarus, was this year awarded the Sakharov Prize, awarded by the European Parliament for its freedom of thought. The second winner was Georgian writer Mzia Amaglobeli. They are both imprisoned as anti-government activity by the authorities of their countries. On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in the European Parliament, a discrimination on behalf of the winners was received by their loved ones. It aims to publicise the situation of political prisoners and is part of the force to release them.
On 16 December 2025, in Strasbourg, at the European Parliament's solemn meeting, his president Robert Metsol presented the Sakharov Prize 2025. On behalf of Mzia Amaglobeli, the award was received by her colleague Irma Dimitraga. A writer was arrested in January 2025 for participating in anti-government protests in Georgia. In a resolution of June this year, the EP called for the immediate and unconditional release of Amaglobeli, condemning attacks by Georgian Dream parties, including political opposition, independent media and civilian society. In the name of Andrzej Poczobut, the Sakharov Prize was received by his daughter, John.
- Them prize. Sakharov for Andrzej Poczobut is simply a unique distinction, which from the position of us, Poles surviving in Poland, especially in Białystok, and Grodzień in Belarus, is simply a peculiar symbol. For over 5 years, we have been calling on various decision-makers, the media, to publicise the situation of Andrzej Poczoput and political prisoners who are imprisoned in Belarus, even though many people have left prison. Andrzej Poczobut is simply a Polish activist, a writer who was convicted by Alaksandr Lukashenko and listed on the list of terrorists for his activity and social attitude – says Newseria Anna Kietlińska, president of the Podlaskie branch of the Association “Community of Poland”.
Andrzej Poczobut was detained in March 2021 in Grodno and has since been imprisoned. In February 2023, he was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment in a maximum safety penal colony. He appealed to the ultimate Court, but the conviction was upheld.
– Andrzej Pochobut has been in lockdown for over 5 years. First he was in custody, in prison, now he's in Novopolock in a penal colony. It is simply a colony of maximum safety for men. Andrzej, as we have signaled respective times, is additionally repressed by the actions of seclusion, all now and then it is for single purposes, in different boxes, so this undoubtedly affects his wellness – alarms Anna Kietlinska.
In November this year, the Center for the Defence of Human Rights “Spring” stated that Andrzej Poczobut is suffering from arrhythmia and hypertension, as well as having surgery. Still, he was transferred to a closed unit for six months.
– As a consequence of the publicity of the case and various diplomatic activities, Andrzej receives medication, so it is already won – says the president of the Podlasie branch of the Association "Community of Poland". We don't have much information about his condition. Andrzej writes letters to the family, it is the only form of communication, but we know that they are censored. The information is so residual.
According to the Belarusian Spring Organization, since 2020 there have been over 7840 convictions in political criminal matters. Arrests and repressions have persisted since 2020, erstwhile mass protests of Belarusians occurred after the falsified presidential elections. As of November 30, 2025, 1222 political prisoners, including 199 women, were in prison in Belarus. They are frequently held in inhumane conditions. They are limited to visits, access to lawyers, telephone calls, correspondence, and receiving aid packages.
– Andrzeja was represented in the European Parliament by friends, Msa Amaglobeli and lawyers, patrons. Andrew doesn't have an independent lawyer, he doesn't have a right to him. – emphasises Małgorzata Gosiewska, associate of the European Parliament of Law and Justice.
– This award and media sound around it announces the individual of Andrzej Pochobut, as well as the situation of the Polish number in Belarus and free journalism in this country. Together with Andrzej Poczopbut, many independent journalists associated with Belsat were convicted in various trials. Many were forced to go to another countries. The fact that Andrzej Poczobut is awarded is simply a clear signal that what they have done so far made sense and deserves to be remembered and, above all, to respect the free – emphasizes Anna Kietlinska.
During a short speech in the European Parliament, Jan Poczobut thanked for her father's memory, as well as another families in a akin situation.
– The force and solidarity from the European Union are invaluable, Them. Sakharovna is nothing but a large sign of solidarity, but besides a shield against persecution. But Bialacki in his first words after his release said that possibly the Nobel Prize saved him from physical persecution in prison. specified distinctions and signs of solidarity are so of large importance to those deprived of liberty. They are also, of course, a large call for their release – says Robert Tyszkiewicz, coordinator for Polish and Polish affairs abroad at the Chancellery of the legislature of Poland.
Aleś Bialacki, the head and founder of the Center for the Defence of Human Rights "Spring", a Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2022, was among 123 political prisoners released on 13 December in the framework of an agreement between the authorities in Minsk and the United States (in exchange for the abolition of any sanctions). In his first interview published on the “Spring” website, Bialacki stressed the request for more force to halt repression in Belarus. In his opinion, the release of any prisoners alone is not enough, due to the fact that others are being detained at the time, and Lukashenko will usage this situation to fight for further concessions against Belarus.
Members of the European Parliament have already adopted respective resolutions condemning the repression of political prisoners in Belarus and demanding their release. In a resolution of 2023, they demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Andrzej Pochobut, stating that the charges against him are politically motivated and aimed at suppressing freedom of speech and association.
