In a powerful statement supporting press freedom, the European Union has awarded its prestigious Sakharov Prize to two journalists currently imprisoned in Belarus and Georgia. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced the decision on Wednesday, highlighting their unwavering commitment to justice and democracy. Andrzej Poczobut, a correspondent for Poland’s Gazeta Wyborcza, is serving an eight-year sentence in Belarus for allegedly “harming national security.” Mzia Amaghlobeli, a prominent Georgian journalist and founder of independent media outlets, was sentenced to two years for slapping a police chief during an anti-government protest—a case widely criticized as an attack on media freedom. Both journalists have become symbols of the fight for human rights and democracy in their respective countries. The Sakharov Prize, established in 1988 and named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, honors individuals or groups defending fundamental freedoms. This year’s award sends a strong message of solidarity to political prisoners worldwide, emphasizing that journalism is not a crime. The ceremony will take place in December at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, accompanied by a €50,000 ($58,000) endowment.