International Press Institute honours journalists from Georgia and Ukraine with Press Freedom Hero award

On 24 October, the International Press Institute (IPI) honoured seven journalists as World Press Freedom Heroes, including journalists from Georgia and Ukraine, during a ceremony at the University of Vienna held as part of IPI’s 75th anniversary World Congress.

This year’s Press Freedom Heroes are Mzia Amaglobeli (Georgia), Victoria Roshchyna (Ukraine), Martin Baron (United States), Mariam Abu Dagga (Palestine), Gustavo Gorriti (Peru), Jimmy Lai (Hong Kong), and Tesfalem Waldyes (Ethiopia).

The awardees include war correspondents, investigative journalists, and media founders who have all displayed tremendous courage and resilience in fighting for media freedom and the free flow of news.

Two of this year’s awardees, Dagga and Roshchyna, were honoured posthumously, in recognition of the ultimate sacrifice they made in the line of duty.

Accepting the award on behalf of Roshchyna were Anna Babinets, director of Slidstvo.Info, who has reported extensively on Roshchyna’s case, and Andrey Boborykin, executive director of Ukrainska Pravda, where Roshchyna freelanced. 

“It’s strange being on stage in Europe, accepting an award for a colleague, a colleague you knew, a prominent journalist who is not with us anymore,” Babinets said. “Can you imagine that a professional journalist from a European country, in the 21st century, is dying in prison because of torture and starvation? I’m honoured to receive this award for my amazing, brave colleague.”

Amaglobeli and Lai were also unable to attend the ceremony due to their ongoing incarceration.

Accepting the award on behalf of Amaglobeli was her friend and colleague, Tamar Rukhadze, deputy director of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, the outlet Amaglobeli founded. 

“Mzia never sought to be a hero, and perhaps that’s precisely why she is the right person to be one,” Rukhadze said. “This award is not just for Mzia, but for the entire Batumelebi and Netgazeti team who carry on Mzia’s fight.”

The International Press Institute (IPI) is a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists who share a common dedication to quality, independent journalism. The EU-funded Regional Communication Programme EU NEIGHBOURS east has partnered with the International Press Institute (IPI) to bring journalists from Eastern Partner (EaP) countries to the 2025 IPI World Congress and Media Innovation Festival.

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Press release