“Politics is not a transaction. Politics must be based on values.” These are the words of Andrzej Poczobut, Belarusian journalist, human rights defender and 2025 Sakharov Prize laureate. Known for his outspoken criticism of the Lukashenka regime and his work on history and human rights, Poczobut was imprisoned in Belarus from 2021 to 2026. In this interview, he reflects on democracy, human rights and the importance of critical thinking, seeking information and making informed choices. For him, defending human rights must be a common interest; it is essential to stand up for others, because what affects one person’s rights can ultimately affect us all.
Since when?! Politics is based on -money.
Perhaps one of the deepest lessons here is that human rights cannot depend on whether defending them is convenient, profitable, or politically advantageous. But there is another dimension worth considering: freedom requires more than the right to express an opinion. It also requires the ability to access reliable information, question authority, and meaningfully challenge decisions that shape one's life. As more consequential decisions become mediated by complex institutions and automated systems, this principle will become even more important. A society may preserve the formal language of rights while gradually weakening people's practical ability to exercise them. Should we therefore judge the strength of a democracy not only by the rights it declares, but by how effectively ordinary people can exercise those rights when confronting powerful institutions?
Where are the human rights in #Gaza ? Palestinians do have human rights don’t they ?
Stop meddling in other countries' business. One maidan fascist coup wasn't enough?
It is never about human rights; it is about extraction rights and power.
Has the legal instrument of the Human Right become the tool of Western hegemony? JPG
Agree completely! Did he write a book about his ideas?
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Білоруси допомогли росіянам в 2022 році і співвідповідальні за вбивства у Бучі Ірпені в Україні. Час визначитися по якій стороні історії цей народ бо за ці цінності варто боротися як полк Каліновського.
Poczobut’s emphasis on informed choices is especially relevant when assessing Europe’s human rights commitments. EuropeScope’s Human Rights topic offers a closer look at the parliamentary record, including final votes and individual amendments on political prisoners, repression and persecution. Showing how MEPs and political groups translate those commitments into votes : https://www.europescope.eu/topics/human-rights