Nargiz Absalamova, an imprisoned journalist from “Abzas Media”, has been named one of the winners of the prestigious Free Media Awards 2025.

The award is presented by Norway’s Fritt Ord Foundation and Germany’s ZEIT Stiftung Bucerius to support journalists who defend freedom of expression and continue professional reporting despite censorship and political pressure.

Absalamova was recognised for her video reports and documentaries on environmental pollution, corruption, and violations of social rights. According to the organisers, this year’s prizes went to six journalists and media outlets from Eastern and Central Europe for their courageous work in investigative journalism under repressive conditions.

The joint statement stressed that authoritarian regimes in the region are expanding their influence, and some of this year’s laureates have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms solely for their journalistic activities. “This is not just a warning about press freedom in Azerbaijan. Being a woman journalist in an authoritarian country is both difficult and dangerous,” the release noted.

Other 2025 laureates include Georgian journalist Mzia Amaqlobeli, Russian journalist Alexandra Astakhova, the Belarusian Investigative Center, Hungary’s Direkt36, and Ukraine’s Gwara Media.

"Abzas Media" itself was also recognised with the Free Media Award in 2024 for its investigations into corruption.

Absalamova was arrested in November 2023 as part of a criminal case against Abzas Media. Like her colleagues, she was accused of currency smuggling and other financial crimes. In June 2025, she was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Local and international human rights organisations have described the charges as fabricated and urged the Azerbaijani authorities to release the journalists.