On Tuesday 23 September, MEPs presented their candidates for the 2025 Sakharov Prize.
The EPP and ECR groups have nominated Andrzej Poczobut, a Polish-Belarusian journalist, human rights activist and political prisoner in Belarus. According to Łukasz Kohut (EPP, Polish), Mr Poczobut is “the symbol of more than 1,500 political prisoners”, and for Małgorzata Gosiewska (ECR, Polish), he has “dedicated his life to the service of the truth”.
The S&D group is highlighting journalists and humanitarian workers in conflict zones, represented by the Palestinian Press Association, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). According to Hana Jalloul Muro (Spanish), in Gaza, “both humanitarian law and the right to information are under threat”.
The Left has also nominated journalists in Palestine, represented by Hamza & Wael Al-Dahdouh, Plestia Alaqad, Shireen Abu Akleh and Ain Media (in honour of Yasser Murtaja & Roshdi Sarraj). “Every day, dozens of journalists risk their lives to show the world what is happening. Everyone should be grateful for the work done and we should honour the memory of those who were killed while working”, explained Danilo Della Valle (Italian).
Lithuanian EPP member Rasa Juknevičienė and 60 other MEPs are putting forward the candidature of Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli and the pro-democracy demonstration movement in Georgia. “Georgians have been fighting for their European future for almost a year now, they are fighting the same battle as Ukrainians”, Mrs Juknevičienė explained.
The Renew Europe group has proposed Serbian students “who are calling for a democratic and free Serbia” and who “believe in Europe and are fighting for it”, stressed Helmut Brandstätter (Austrian).
The Greens/EFA, along with around forty other MEPs, have named the Budapest Pride. “These people are fighting for the whole of the EU, defending the right to assemble, the right to be and love whoever you want”, explained Kim van Sparrentak (Greens/EFA, Dutch).
The ESN group is putting the spotlight on murdered influencer and pro-Trump political activist Charlie Kirk. According to Marc Jongen (German), “Mr Kirk was fighting for freedom of expression”.
Finally, Patriots for Europe is proposing the Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, “an intellectual who has made freedom his permanent battle, who has risked his career, his security and today his freedom to defend truth and human dignity”, explained Thierry Mariani (French). Mr Sansal is said to have refused his nomination.
The three finalists will be announced on 16 October and the winner chosen on 23 October. The Sakharov Prize will be officially awarded on 16 December. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)