The Sakharov Prize — the EU’s highest award for human rights — was presented at the European Parliament to Irma Dimitridze – the representative of Mzia Amaglobeli.

Dear Members of the European Parliament,

Receiving the highest human rights award from you is a great honor 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 a proof that our voice, the voice of Georgian 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 don’t need to turn historical sources for the evidence. We have seen it with our own eyes and remember the years of Soviet occupation. We remember of Georgians brutally beaten with shovels and poisoned with chemicals by Russian troops; we remember the August 2008 war and we live through continued occupation of Georgia. There are still Russian troops on our soil. In the given circumstances under the constant Russian threat, building the democracy wasn’t an easy job but we did our best. We witnessed our votes having an impact on elections. Reshaped environment to eradicate corruption in higher education system. Developed high quality journalism and impartial media. Debated the protection of human rights, the obligations of the states and 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 the Europe. So did you in Georgia.

But here no today, in my home country the aspiration toward the European Union is being met with the repressions. The state the 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 burning in Georgia ever since.

This regime is ruthless: it beats, fines, arrests, and blackmails protesters. It destroys free journalism, abolishes opposition political parties, and imprisons their leaders, effectively dismantles non-governmental organizations, 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 that requires international investigation and we count on you. Yet this regime has failed to silence protests. Perhaps this is very reason why European Union statements in support 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 an action and that European leaders would use all available mechanisms to exact pressure on autocratic rulers. It is my wish that you stand for Georgian society, its democracy and its European aspirations, the way you stand for the freedom of your own countries. 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 toward 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 EU and the member states of the US, of 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 autocratic and dictatorial forces? Will you say that economic influence takes presentence over the partnerships based on equality, solidarity, and trust? That international law and institutions have lost their power and are incapable of acting, while repressive regimes terrorize citizens fighting for freedom, democracy, justice, and dignity, terrorizes 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.

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 oppressions, it will be an irreparable historical mistake, for which you and us 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 free individuals across the world.

Fight with us, fight for us! Fight as you would fight for a freedom of your own countries. Use every mechanism at your disposal and do so before its too late. I believe this is possible. I believe in free, democratic and strong Europe.

Thank you.

Mzia