The Václav Havel Library has announced this year’s finalists for its Human Rights Prize: Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia, Maksym Butkevych from Ukraine, and Ulvi Hasanli from Azerbaijan. The winner will be announced on 29 September during the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe session in Strasbourg.
The three journalists have all faced severe repression. While Amaglobeli was jailed for exposing the violent suppression of anti-government protests, Butkevych joined Ukraine’s forces after Russia’s 2022 invasion, was captured, sentenced to 13 years, and released in a prisoner swap in October 2024.
Hasanli has endured detention, torture, and politically motivated charges; in June he was sentenced to nine years and is now on hunger strike in isolation.