Pjotr Sauer presented the Freedom of Speech Award to the non-profit organisation Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Journalist Pjotr Sauer is the son of Derk Sauer, who presented this award to the investigative collective Bellingcat in 2024. Pjotr has experienced first-hand how fragile press freedom is and what it is like as a journalist not to be free to do your work safely. Pjotr grew up in Russia, where he was able to do his job as a journalist for a long time. Until war broke out and he was suddenly seen as the enemy. He was forced to leave Russia because of the security risks and censorship that accompanied the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Pjotr now travels through Eastern Europe to document Russia's actions on the world stage and is a correspondent for The Guardian.

Pjotr Sauer: ''At a time when journalists around the world face growing pressure, intimidation and even imprisonment, the work of the Committee to Protect Journalists has never been more vital. CPJ stands on the front line defending reporters who risk everything to tell the truth.''