Mzia Amaglobeli Receives the Sakharov Prize – Her Speech Read in the European Parliament

“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. 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,” said the President of the European Parliament at the award ceremony.

Mzia Amaglobeli, the founder and director of independent Georgian publications “Batumelebi” and “Netgazet”, has been in unlawful detention for over 11 months. Today, her speech was read out in the European Parliament by her colleague, Irma Dimitradze.

“Dear members of the European Parliament,

Receiving the highest human rights award from you is a great honour and a great responsibility, and I accept it on behalf of my colleagues, the journalists who are now fighting in Georgia to save journalism as such.  They work tirelessly to make sure that you hear the voice of resistance of Georgia's citizens, that the truth is not silenced.

I accept this award on behalf of all political prisoners who are unjustly imprisoned and convicted for fighting for Georgia's European future.

This award is proof that our voice, the voice of Georgia's citizens, is well heard in the European Union.

My people have walked a very long and difficult road for that voice to finally reach you because there was always Russia standing between us.

My generation knows well what kind of threat Russia is, and we do not need to turn to historical sources for the evidence. We have seen it with our own eyes and remember the years of Soviet occupation.  We remember Georgians brutally beaten with shovels and poisoned with chemicals by Russian troops.

We remember the August 2008 war, and we live through the continued occupation of Georgia. There are still Russian troops on our soil.

In the given circumstances, under the constant Russian threat, building democracy was not an easy job. But we did our best.

We witnessed our votes having an impact on the elections. Reshaped the environment to eradicate corruption in the higher education system. Developed high-quality journalism and impartial media, debated the protection of human rights, the obligations of the states and the responsibility of the citizens.

During these years, a new generation of Georgians learned English and other European languages rather than Russian. We aspired for the world to stop seeing us through the Russian lens. Europe came to know contemporary Georgian writers, artists, and film directors.

We exchanged knowledge, experience and culture with you across the Black Sea.

We discovered interesting issues, friends and even beloved cities across Europe.

So did you in Georgia, but here now today in my home country, the aspiration toward the European Union is being met with repression.

The state has been captured by a regime that serves Russian interests. For more than a year, Georgian citizens have been continuously protesting against the announcement suspending the EU accession process. And you must know that announcement was like an ember. It sparked the fire that has been still burning in Georgia ever since.

 This regime is ruthless. It beats, finds, arrests, and blackmails protesters. It destroys free journalism, abolishes opposition political parties, and imprisons their leaders, effectively dismantles non-governmental organisations, labels those who work in them as foreign agents, and, as we recently learned from a BBC investigation documentary, allegedly it poisons its own citizens using toxic chemical substances. The allegation requires an international investigation, and we count on you.

Yet this regime has failed to silence protests. Perhaps this is the very reason why European Union statements in support of the Georgian people have been stronger and more precise than ever, and I am deeply grateful for this.

I also wish that these statements turn into action and that European leaders would use all available mechanisms to exert pressure on autocratic rulers. It is my wish that you stand for Georgian society, its democracy and its European aspiration the way you stand for the freedom of your own country.

Because in the end, it all comes down to this. It must at least now be unmistakably clear that the force behind the horrors in Belarus, Ukraine and Georgia is moving closer to the heart of Europe. It is heading towards your homes, and we are merely on its way.

Soon, much of the European world will celebrate Christmas and the New Year. In recent days, I have been thinking about how the leaders of the EU and the member states of the US, the UK and other democratic states would congratulate the rest of the world.

What will you tell them about the future, about a new world order, and about the peace?

Will you say that the expansion of democratic governance and security is no longer a benefit to humanity?

Will you say that we must accept the illusory peace and borders offered by authoritarian and dictatorial forces?

Will you say that economic influence takes precedence over the partnership based on equality, solidarity and trust?

…that the international law, the institutions have lost their power and are incapable of acting, while repressive regimes terrorise citizens fighting for freedom, democracy, justice and dignity? Terrorises them by imprisoning them or forcing them into exile?

We remain in Georgia on the streets of our cities, where even holding a peaceful protest is now banned.

We stay in prisons where we have been unlawfully confined. And while we keep up our fight, we look forward to you.

And as someone who knows Russian threats very well, we are here to tell you that if the civilised world allows Moscow to unilaterally impose the so-called peace agreements and redraw borders according to its imperial ambitions, this will clearly be an announcement of the endless wars on this beautiful continent.

If freedom-loving countries and nations like Georgia and brave warrior independent states like Ukraine are left alone in the face of Russia's hybrid warfare or military aggression, it will be an irreparable historical mistake for which you and we will have to pay a heavy price.

The fate of our struggle doesn't depend on us alone because our struggle is not only about us.

We need your solidarity and support—the solidarity of the people of Europe and of free individuals across the world.

Fight with us. Fight for us.

Fight as you would fight for the freedom of your own countries.

Use every mechanism at your disposal and do so before it's too late.

I believe this is possible.

I believe in a free, democratic and strong Europe.

Thank you.

Mzia”.

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, is the European Union's highest human rights award. Since 1988, Parliament has annually awarded it to individuals, groups, or organisations recognised for their efforts in promoting human rights, freedom of expression, and democratic principles.