Andrzej Poczobut's Daughter Accepted The Sakharov Prize Instead Of Her Father

Jana Poczobut gave a strong speech in the European Parliament.

Jana, the daughter of politically imprisoned journalist Andrzej Poczobut, spoke at the European Parliament on December 16 at the Sakharov Prize ceremony, which her father was awarded this year. Her speech was quoted by Deutsche Welle.

"This is a very emotional moment for our family. For almost 5 years my family has lived in silence, uncertainty and the absence of someone we love. I want to thank the European Parliament for remembering him and all the families who live with the same unanswered questions," said Jana Poczobut.

The journalist's daughter also noted that Andrzej Poczobut is not only a public face - he is also a father, a son, a friend.

"Every day of these five years we don't know how he is, whether he is safe. Nevertheless, every day we choose hope, because hope is the only thing that has not been taken away from us," she said.

Yana Pochobut in her speech recalled the situation with political prisoner politician Nikolai Statkevich, who was released in September this year, but refused to leave Belarus, after which he was returned to the colony.

"I mentioned his name today not as a political statement, but as a reminder that behind every silence there is a human life and a family that deserves to know the truth. When we say these names out loud, they cease to be statistics, they become real again," Pochobut said.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola expressed solidarity with Pochobut and another award winner, Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, who is also imprisoned.

"I am proud to award this year's Sakharov Prize to journalists Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli in recognition of their courageous struggle for freedom of expression and the democratic future of Belarus and Georgia. This Parliament expresses solidarity with Mzia and Andrzej and calls for their immediate release - because speaking truth to power should never be a crime," Metsola said.

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