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The selection panel of the prestigious Václav Havel Human Rights Prize has announced its three finalists for 2025. The laureate will receive €60,000, along with a trophy and diploma, recognition of outstanding civil-society contributions to human rights across Europe and beyond.
Among the finalists are two imprisoned journalists from the South Caucasus: Mzia Amaghlobeli of Georgia and Ulvi Hasanli of Azerbaijan—both emblematic of unwavering commitment to press freedom under repression. Amaghlobeli is a co-founder of independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, and her arrest followed courageous reporting amid protests. Hasanli, director of Abzas Media, has remained a symbol of resistance despite imprisonment under politically motivated charges.
Joining them on the shortlist is Maksym Butkevych, a Ukrainian journalist and human rights defender. He gained prominence for co-founding the E.U.-backed Human Rights Centre ZMINA and Hromadske Radio, and has become a potent emblem of courage after enduring over two years of harsh imprisonment before his release in late 2024.
The final selection came from a panel convening in Prague and chaired by the head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The winner will be revealed at a ceremony in Strasbourg during the Autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly later this year.
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