EU Statement – Exchange of views with Mr. Andrzej Poczobut, recipient of the 2025 Sakharov Prize

EU Statement - Exchange of views with Mr. Andrzej Poczobut, recipient of the 2025 Sakharov Prize

1. We warmly welcome Mr. Andrzej Poczobut and thank him for his remarks. Known for his outspoken defence of freedom of speech, his writings on history and human rights, and his criticism of the Lukashenka regime, Andrzej Poczobut, member of the Polish minority, was arrested several times before being sentenced to eight years in a penal colony. Imprisoned since 2021, including in solitary confinement, his health deteriorated in prison and he did not receive the healthcare he needed during his detention.

2. At the award ceremony for the European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in December 2025, President Roberta Metsola expressed Parliament's solidarity with the Sakharov Prize laureates and called for their release, stating: "Speaking truth to power must never be a crime."

3. We welcomed with relief the recent release of Mr. Poczobut, following the release of other political prisoners in Belarus, whose courage and lifelong dedication to human rights have inspired many. However, this long-awaited progress must not overshadow the grim reality faced by over 850 political prisoners who remain behind bars in Belarus. We reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, and their effective rehabilitation.

The following countries aligned with this statement: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.