Mzia Amaghlobeli, the founder of Netgazeti and Batumelebi and a detained journalist, has been nominated for the Sakharov Prize.

Mzia Amaghlobeli’s candidacy was put forward by European Parliament member Rasa Juknevičienė, on behalf of herself and 60 other MEPs, during a joint meeting of the European Parliament’s Committees on Foreign Affairs and Development and the Subcommittee on Human Rights.

According to Rasa Juknevičienė, the Sakharov Prize for Mzia Amaghlobeli and Georgia’s pro-democracy protest movement would be more than a symbolic award.

“Journalists fighting for freedom are symbols of true European values. This is exactly what the Sakharov Prize represents. The candidacy of Mzia Amaghlobeli and the Georgian people was supported by all major political groups. Our nomination was backed by 66 members in less than two days,” the MEP stated.

The nomination was preceded by a video presentation featuring footage of the dispersal of pro-European protest rallies and scenes from Mzia Amaghlobeli’s court proceedings.

In addition to Mzia Amaghlobeli, seven other candidates were nominated for the Sakharov Prize, which is the European Union’s highest human rights award.

The Sakharov Prize, established by the European Parliament in 1988, is awarded annually for contributions to human rights and fundamental freedoms, the development of democracy, the rule of law, respect for international law, and the protection of minority rights.