5th Forum 2000 International Award for Courage and Responsibility (2025)

About the Award

With the vision of recognizing extraordinary civic courage and actions that prioritize responsibility to the wider community, defense of democracy, and promotion of human rights and civil liberties over self-interest, the Forum 2000 Foundation established the International Award for Courage and Responsibility in 2021. The Award is given to citizens or institutions selected in a three-stage process, involving the opinions of a rich variety of significant personalities of the Forum 2000 community.

About Mzia Amaglobeli and the Georgian Resistance Movement

The 5th Forum 2000 Award for Courage and Responsibility was presented to Mzia Amaglobeli and the Georgian Resistance Movement.

Mzia Amaglobeli is a Georgian journalist and media executive. She co-founded the independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, serving as their director. Her work has focused on human rights, corruption, and social justice issues in Georgia. She was arrested on January 11, 2025, during peaceful protests against government policies in the city of Batumi. Initially charged with assaulting a police officer, she spent seven months in pretrial detention before being sentenced on August 6 to two years in prison. The court reclassified the charge at the last minute to “resistance, threats, or violence against a public official.” Amaglobeli has consistently stood up against authoritarianism, censorship, and political intimidation, becoming a symbol of integrity and resistance for Georgia’s democratic aspirations.

Together with Mzia, the award was also presented to the entire Georgian Resistance movement, which has demonstrated extraordinary courage and perseverance, standing firm against repeated efforts to erode constitutional rights and democratic institutions. Despite facing systemic repression, intimidation, and significant personal and societal risks, the people of Georgia have continued to raise their voices in peaceful protest, demanding transparency, justice, and respect for human dignity.

The 5th Forum 2000 Award for Courage and Responsibility recognizes Mzia’s unwavering commitment to truth and justice, as well as the bravery of the people of Georgia, an expression of national unity and moral conviction rooted in a deep desire to secure a free and democratic future for current and future generations.

Due to Mzia’s imprisonment, she was not able to accept the award in person. Her colleagues and fellow activists, Tamar Rukhadze and Saba Brachveli, received the award on her behalf.

Selection of photographs from the 5th Forum 2000 International Award for Courage and Responsibility Ceremony

Previous years of the Forum 2000 International Award for Courage and Responsibility