Sakharov Prize to Be Awarded to International Criminal Court and 11 Judges, Including Gocha Lortkipanidze

The 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought has been awarded to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its officials. The prize will be presented to 11 judges, including Georgian judge Gocha Lortkipanidze, and to the institution as a whole.

According to the European Parliament, the prize highlights the ICC's work, including investigations, criminal prosecutions and trials. The laureates were announced by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

The statement says: "All of them have rich careers in national and international prosecution, justice, human rights and international criminal law, including experience working on cases of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, and on the rights of victims and accountability".

The European Parliament notes that the court is a key actor in the global fight against impunity. The ICC, which is governed by the international treaty "Rome Statute", is the world's first permanent international criminal court. It investigates and, where necessary, prosecutes persons accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was established in 1988. The European Parliament awards it annually to individuals and organizations for the protection of human and fundamental rights, the protection of minority rights, respect for international law, and the development of democracy and the protection of the rule of law.

The award ceremony will take place in December in Strasbourg, during the European Parliament's plenary session.