The first edition of the Shireen Abu Akleh Prize has been awarded to Russian journalist Antonina Favorskaya in a ceremony held in Paris, France, on 12 May. The prize, launched by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the International Francophone Press Union (UPF), recognised the courage and professional commitment of Favorskaya, a Russian journalist who is serving a five and a half years jail sentence on charges of “extremism”.
Antonina Favorskaya, known for her reporting with independent news outlet SotaVision, is currently serving a five and a half years sentence in a prison in Moscow. On 15 April 2025, a Russian court found Favorskaya guilty of “participating in an extremist group” for her alleged links to late opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s anti-corruption group. She filmed the last video of Navalny in February 2024 and was arrested in March 2024 after visiting his grave, where she laid flowers and took photographs.
The IFJ condemned the verdict and demanded the release of Favorskaya and all journalists detained in Russia.
The jury unanimously recognised her courage, professional values and unfair treatment, the IFJ added.
The journalist’s lawyer, Olga Mikhailova accepted the award on Favorskaya’s behalf in a ceremony celebrated in Paris, France, on 12 May.
The Shireen Abu Akleh Prize was launched by the IFJ and the UPF in 2024 to recognise the bravery and determination of women journalists. The award pays tribute to Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh killed by the Israeli forces while she was covering a raid in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank, on 11 May 2022. Three years after her murder, impunity still prevails.
IFJ President Dominique Pradalié, who is part of the jury’s Prize, said: “We received over 40 nominations from women journalists across all five continents. While the quality of the submissions was excellent, the jury's decision was unanimous in recognising the outstanding courage and professionalism of journalist Antonina Favorskaya, who remains unjustly imprisoned in Russia. With our affiliates, we will continue our efforts until Antonina and all unjustly imprisoned Russian journalists are freed.”
UPF President Meriem Oudghiri said: “This award celebrates the courage, dedication and resilience of women journalists around the world who risk their lives to inform, inspire and defend the truth. Their work in dangerous situations and on complex issues highlights crucial issues, often at great personal sacrifice.”
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