Journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who died in captivity, was posthumously recognized as the Hero of Press Freedom.
Ukrainian journalist Viktoriya Roshchyna, who died in Russian captivity, became one of the laureates of the “Hero of Press Freedom” award, presented by the International Press Institute (IPI). About this reported on the organization’s website.
This award is given to journalists who have shown unwavering commitment to the principles of freedom of the press. The death of Viktoria Roshchyna highlighted the brutal treatment of Ukrainian journalists illegally detained by the Russian authorities.
Hero of Press Freedom Award from IPI and IMS recognizes the enormous personal sacrifice of a journalist in the pursuit of bringing important information and stories to the world. The presentation will take place at the IPI World Congress, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the organization, in Vienna on October 24.
This year’s laureates were:
- Viktoria Roschyna (posthumously), Ukraine – Ukrainian journalist who died on September 19, 2024 in Russian captivity;
- Mzia Amaglobeli, Georgia – co-founder and CEO of opposition media “Batumelebi” and “Netgazeti”, sentenced to two years in prison in August 2025;
- Martin Baron, USA — former editor of The Washington Post and The Boston Globe;
- Mariam Abu Dagga (posthumous), Palestine, a freelance photojournalist who died on August 25, 2025 during Israeli shelling of the southern Gaza Strip;
- Gustavo Gorriti, Peru – founder and editor-in-chief of the investigative publication IDL-Reporteros;
- Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong — publisher and founder of the pro-democracy publication Apple Daily, repeatedly convicted since 2021;
- Tesfalem Valdies, Ethiopia – co-founder and editor-in-chief of Ethiopia Insider, who has suffered numerous arrests and worked in exile.
“Each of this year’s winners of the “Hero of Press Freedom” award faced serious dangers and threats just for doing their job. Two of them – Victoria Roschyna and Mariam Abu Dagga – paid for it with their lives, the organization said.
