Journalist Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva), who is currently imprisoned in connection with the “Meydan TV case,” has won the Most Resilient Journalist nomination of the Free Press Awards 2025, presented by the international organization Free Press Unlimited.
The award was given in recognition of her perseverance despite the difficulties she has faced during her journalistic career.
According to information published on the organization’s website, “Over the years, Ulviyya Ali has produced more than 500 reports and articles for Voice of America, highlighting human rights issues in Azerbaijan. She has paid particular attention to political repression, the situation of marginalized groups, the problems faced by the LGBT+ community, young people’s attitudes toward state institutions, challenges faced by women in the workplace, and poverty-related issues.”
The organization states that she was deemed worthy of this award for continuing her journalistic work despite prolonged political repression and personal risk. It is noted that although she is being held in the Baku Pretrial Detention Center, she continues to prepare news reports from there, publicize human rights violations, and conduct interviews with other political prisoners.
The other winner of the award is Sudanese journalist Al-Migdad Hasan, who received the New Journalist of the Year award.
Journalist Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva) was arrested on May 7 in connection with a criminal case related to Meydan TV.
Initially, she was charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling committed by a group of persons acting in prior conspiracy).
On August 28, 2025, the charges in the “Meydan TV case” were aggravated and seven additional articles were added.
