ICC, its officials, including Gocha Lortkipanidze, awarded Sakharov Prize

The 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought has been collectively awarded to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its 11 judges, including Gocha Lortkipanidze.

The award highlights the ICC’s work, including investigations, prosecutions, trials and the issuance or authorisation of arrest warrants.

Announcing the 2026 laureate in the hemicycle, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola declared: “The European Union is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions. With the award of the Sakharov prize to the International Criminal Court and its officials, the European Parliament recognises the Court’s important work in upholding international law and justice.”

According to the European Parliament (EP), the Court is a crucial actor in the global fight to end impunity, and through international criminal justice, it aims to hold those responsible accountable for their crimes and to help prevent these crimes from happening again. As a court of last resort, it seeks to complement national courts. Governed by an international treaty called the Rome Statute, the ICC is the world’s first permanent international criminal court.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.

The award ceremony for the 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will take place in December in Strasbourg, during Parliament’s plenary session.