Sevinj Vagifgyzy was awarded the International Press Freedom Prize.

The editor-in-chief of Abzas Media, who was convicted in Azerbaijan, has been awarded the Freedom of the Press Award in the "Courage Award" category. The publication's director accepted the award, presented by an international organization defending journalists, on Vagifgizi's behalf.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," in October it was announced that Abzas Media editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi has been nominated for the Free Press Awards, presented by the authoritative international organization defending journalists. The award's organizing committee noted that Sevinj Vagifgizi "remains an unwavering voice for free media in Azerbaijan" as he continues to work in prison.

Sevinj Vagifgyzy was awarded the Freedom of the Press Award in the Courage category. The award ceremony took place on November 15 in Paris, Meydan TV reported on its website on November 16.

At the event, Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda, Myanmar journalist Shin Dewe, Burkina Faso journalist Atiana Serge Oulon, and French photojournalist Robin Toutenges were also awarded.

01:29 29.05.2025

Abzas Media journalists' work recognized by the European Press Prize

The "Baku Trace" series of reports, started by Abzas Media journalists and continued by their European colleagues under the direction of Forbidden Stories, has received a special award at the European Press Prize 2025.

The award, presented to Sevinj Vagifgizi, was accepted on her behalf by Abzas Media Director Gunel Safarova. She also read a letter from the editor-in-chief of Abzas Media to the ceremony participants.

In turn, the awards ceremony organizers called Sevinj Vagifgizi "a symbol of dignity and hope" for her "principledness and steadfastness in the face of injustice," the publication said.

As a reminder, Abzas Media employees were arrested on charges of currency smuggling due to 40,000 euros found in the editorial office. Subsequently, all of them were charged with new economic crimes under seven articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code.

In court, the lawyers pointed out the lack of evidence of the defendants' guilt and called for their acquittal. Vagifgizi's lawyer, Elchin Sadigov, called the charges of illegal entrepreneurship and money laundering absurd. "The charge of laundering illegally acquired property is absurd because there is no evidence that the journalists acquired anything illegally. Even if they did receive grants illegally, as the investigation claims, this would be subject to administrative liability, not criminal. The media outlet conducts educational activities, so there can be no talk of any illegal entrepreneurship," Sadygov told the Caucasian Knot in June.

13:58 03.11.2025

Journalist Mehralizade, imprisoned in Azerbaijan, has been awarded the 2025 John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award. US Congressman James McGovern called for Mehralizade's release and the dismissal of charges against his wife, activist Nargiz Mukhtarova.

At the end of September, Sevinj Vagifgizi, Nargiz Absalamova, and Elnara Gasimova were transferred to a penitentiary complex in the village of Gurumba in southern Azerbaijan, 250 kilometers from Baku. The journalists and their families consider their transfer to the remote prison a biased decision, and lawyers pointed out its illegality.

Journalists from other media outlets, including Meydan TV, Toplum TV, and Kanal-13, have also been persecuted in Azerbaijan. Details are compiled by the "Caucasian Knot" in the report "Serial Arrests of Journalists in Azerbaijan".

The number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan reached its highest point in 2024 since the country's 23-year membership in the Council of Europe, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "Key Points to the Record Number of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan". At the same time, the Azerbaijani authorities deny the existence of political prisoners in the country.