Poland Awards Lech Wałęsa Solidarity Prize to Imprisoned Georgian Journalist

The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has awarded the Lech Wałęsa Solidarity Prize to Mzia Amaglobeli—founder of the independent Georgian outlets *Batumelebi* and *Netgazeti*—in recognition of her contribution to promoting and supporting democratic values.

The award ceremony took place in Warsaw. Irma Dimitradze, a representative of *Batumelebi*, accepted the award on Amaglobeli’s behalf from Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski. Lech Wałęsa—former President of Poland, leader of the Solidarity movement, and 1983 Nobel Peace Prize laureate—also attended the ceremony.

Wałęsa wrote on social media that this year’s prize was intended for Amaglobeli, describing her as a journalist who founded two independent Georgian media outlets and campaigns against corruption.

Amaglobeli is currently incarcerated, serving a two-year sentence under Article 353, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia for resisting a police officer. A court found her guilty of slapping the Batumi police chief.

The Polish Foreign Ministry established the Lech Wałęsa Solidarity Prize in 2014. It is awarded to individuals and organizations for their contributions to promoting and defending democracy and civil liberties. Previous laureates include Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev, journalist and civic activist Zhanna Nemtsova, Belarusian politician Pavel Latushka, and Cuban human rights activist Berta Soler Fernández.

During her imprisonment, Amaglobeli has also received a number of international awards. On December 16, 2025, she was awarded the Sakharov Prize—the European Union’s highest human rights award—at the European Parliament.

Upon receiving the Sakharov Prize through her representative, Amaglobeli stated that she accepted it on behalf of political prisoners who, she said, were unjustly serving sentences for their struggle for Georgia’s European future.

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