Meydan TV and Abzas Media were awarded the "Pioneer of Free Media 2026" award.
Azerbaijani independent publications Abzas Media and Meydan TV, whose journalists were subjected to criminal prosecution, have won the international "Pioneer of Free Media 2026" award.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," Abzas Media and Meydan TV have been shortlisted for the international "Pioneer of Free Media 2026" award, presented by the International Press Institute and International Media Support.
On June 16, the International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) announced the names of the winners of the "Pioneer of Free Press 2026" award and the "Pioneer of Free Media 2026" award. Together, they "demonstrate remarkable courage, ingenuity, and resilience in an increasingly challenging environment for press freedom and independent journalism worldwide," the organizations said in a joint statement published on the IPI website.
The 2026 Pioneer of Free Media award winners were the Latin American Center for Investigative Journalism (El CLIP), as well as the Azerbaijani exile outlets Abzas Media and Meydan TV. The 2026 Hero of Global Press Freedom award winners were Patricia Evangelista (Philippines), Monica González (Chile), and independent journalists from Hungary.
The 2026 laureates were selected from a global list of organizations that have pioneered new horizons for the free flow of news and information in their countries and regions, the publication notes.
“As the global environment becomes increasingly hostile to press freedom, these organizations and individuals have demonstrated courage and commitment to confront rising authoritarianism by shining a light on corruption and human rights violations in their countries and regions. We stand in solidarity with them and join their fight for free media and free societies,” said IPI Executive Director Scott Griffin.
IMS Executive Director Jesper Højberg emphasized the importance of protecting journalists working under increasing pressure. "Day after day, overcoming both acute and long-term risks, they expose abuses by those in power and the devastating consequences of greed and inequality. These awards are a sign of our gratitude for their courage and determination to defend the hopes and values we share," he added.
Abzas Media, founded in 2016, is known for its investigative journalism uncovering high-level corruption. In June 2025, a Baku court found employees of the online publication Abzas Media guilty of economic crimes. The publication's director, Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief, Sevinj Vagifgizi, investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, and economist Farid Mehralizade were sentenced to nine years in prison, Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova to eight years, and Mohammed Kekalov to seven. On April 3, the Supreme Court upheld the sentences of all those convicted in the case. International journalistic organizations demanded the release of those convicted in the case.
Abzas Media and Meydan TV remain rare beacons of independent journalism in Azerbaijan amid repression by the authoritarian regime. Forced into exile after a wave of arrests of their staff, the outlets continue to report on corruption and human rights violations in Azerbaijan from exile, while many of their imprisoned journalists continue to write from prison. The resilience, courage, and commitment to press freedom demonstrated by the unjustly imprisoned journalists of Abzas Media and Meydan TV are an inspiring example of media resistance to the rise of authoritarianism, IPI and IMS emphasize. “This award is of great importance to Abzas Media. Thanks to its investigations exposing corruption among public officials, Abzas Media was the first target of the wave of repression that began in November 2023. It is also an important sign of support, showing that our colleagues unjustly sentenced to years in prison are not forgotten, that their courage is noticed, and that the fight for the truth continues,” said Gunel Safarova, Acting Director and Editor-in-Chief of Abzas Media.
Safarova noted that Abzas Media continues its investigations despite the repression.
For the staff of Meydan TV, this award is not only recognition of their professional work but also a significant source of moral support during a very difficult time, said the channel's editor-in-chief, Orkhan Mammad. "This award is a source of hope, joy, and resilience, especially for our colleagues in prison. Despite the difficulties, pressure, and restrictions we face, this award is proof that our work is not going unnoticed and that the international community supports us in our fight to maintain access to reliable information in Azerbaijan," he said.
Founded in 2013 by a dissident blogger, Meydan TV is known for its citizen journalism and coverage of corruption and human rights violations in Azerbaijan. In December 2024, six Meydan TV journalists were detained and later arrested on charges of currency smuggling. They linked the criminal case to their professional activities. By August 2025, 11 people had been arrested in connection with the Meydan TV case.. At the end of August, it became known that the investigation was completed, and a 12th suspect, photojournalist Ahmed Mukhtar, had appeared in the case. At the same time, the arrested journalists were charged with seven more criminal offenses. On December 12, 2025, at the first hearing in the Meydan TV case, the Baku court refused to close the criminal case and release the accused.
The awards will be presented at a special event as part of the Gabo Festival on July 24-26 in Bogota, Colombia.
Meydan TV and Abzas Media, along with Toplum TV and several other publications, serve as the last sources of an alternative view of the processes unfolding in the country for residents of Azerbaijan, a Baku media expert told a Caucasian Knot correspondent.
“Many of their employees have been arrested in Azerbaijan, but these publications, thanks to the internet, can provide accurate information to citizens abroad. It is gratifying that this dedicated work has received international recognition. The international democratic community must support these publications to prevent these voices of freedom of speech from being silenced,” he told a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent. In Azerbaijan itself, after an “unprecedented wave of repression,” there are no functioning independent media outlets left, the expert added.