On the evening of January 14, the Anna Politkovskaya-Armand Soldin Prize ceremony took place in Lille. The awards ceremony took place at the ESJ Lille School of Journalism, the oldest journalism school in France.
The choice of venue was symbolic: the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the main organizer of the prize, thus highlighted the participation of students in the jury.
The 2025 laureate of the prize was Azerbaijani journalist Sevinj Vagifgizi, editor-in-chief and investigative reporter at Abzas Media. She is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence in her home country on charges of "foreign currency smuggling." Gunel Safarova, the publication's acting editor-in-chief, accepted the award on Vagifgizi's behalf at the ceremony.
French journalist Manon Loiseau, who knew Anna Politkovskaya from her work in Chechnya, spoke at the ceremony. She drew a direct parallel between the two journalists, praising their professional courage and integrity.
"Sevinj, like Anna Politkovskaya, always went where others did not, giving a voice to the unheard, becoming a voice for the silenced. (…) Like Anna Politkovskaya, Sevinj is never afraid…" Loiseau said.
Opening the ceremony, French Human Rights Ambassador Isabelle Rom drew attention to the growing risks facing journalists worldwide. She noted that journalism today is experiencing one of the most dangerous periods in its history. She also noted that this year marks the 20th anniversary of Anna Politkovskaya's murder, and the person who masterminded the crime has yet to be officially named.
The theme of remembrance and responsibility was continued by Anna Politkovskaya's son, Ilya. After thanking the award's organizers, he noted that there are more than ten awards in various countries bearing his mother's name, emphasizing the importance of this in preserving her legacy.
"And this is extremely important for preserving her memory. I would, however, like to hope that such awards for journalistic courage will one day cease to exist... Although I understand that this is hardly imaginable," Ilya Politkovsky shared.
Russian journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya was murdered in the elevator of her Moscow apartment building on October 7, 2006. She gained fame for her reporting on the Second Russo-Chechen War, writing about murders, torture, and abductions in the North Caucasus.
In 2024, human rights activists reported an increase in the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, exceeding 300. In October 2025, the Union for Freedom of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan published a list of 392 names. At the same time, the authorities deny the existence of political prisoners in the country.
In December, an amnesty law came into effect in Azerbaijan, marking the Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty. It was reported that this measure would affect approximately 20,000 people and would be implemented within four months. The amnesty, which will not apply to political prisoners, has begun in Azerbaijan.
