Ulvi Hasanli Shortlisted for Václav Havel Prize

Ulvi Hasanli

The Selection Committee of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, which honours outstanding civil society action in the defence of human rights in Europe and beyond, announced the 2025 Prize shortlist on August 26.

The committee, gathered in Prague and composed of independent human rights figures from around the world, chaired by Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), decided to shortlist three nominees, as stated in a Council of Europe press release.

In alphabetical order, the first nominee is Mzia Amaglobeli, a groundbreaking Georgian journalist and co-founder of the independent media outlets "Batumelebi" and "Netgazeti". Despite politically motivated imprisonment and ill-treatment after exposing abuses during protests, her courageous actions helped draw attention to media repression and political abuses. Her arrest and subsequent conviction in 2025 made her a symbol of press freedom and resilience in the face of state repression, highlighting the crucial role of journalists in defending human rights.

Another nominee is Maksym Butkevych, a Ukrainian journalist, human rights defender, and co-founder of the "Zmіna" Human Rights Centre and "Hromadske Radio." Despite his staunch pacifism, he voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2022 and became a platoon commander. Captured by Russian forces and sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment, he endured more than two years in harsh conditions before being released in a prisoner exchange in October 2024. He remains a powerful symbol of courage and resilience in the defence of justice and freedom.

Finally, the third candidate nominated for the Václav Havel Prize is Ulvi Hasanli, an Azerbaijani journalist and director of the independent media outlet Abzas Media. Since 2011, he has been subjected to relentless government harassment, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and politically motivated charges. In June 2025, Hasanli was sentenced to nine years in prison and is currently being held in a remote prison under severe conditions, where he has endured hunger strikes and solitary confinement while continuing to epitomise resilience and commitment to press freedom.

Announcing the committee's selection, the PACE President paid tribute to all human rights defenders who, at times at the cost of their lives, firmly stand for and advance fundamental freedoms and human rights. Today, more than ever, it is of utmost importance to honour the women and men who, with their courage, determination, and strength, show us the way to freedom. Journalists, in particular, with their bravery, resolve, and unwavering commitment to the truth, light the path to liberty and justice. Recent years have truly been the worst for journalists, marking the most destructive period in history, with a record number of those killed, wounded, and detained worldwide. Václav Havel had a profound belief in the power of words and the importance of journalism, asserting that words could change history and that speaking the truth could tear down oppressive regimes.

The name of the 2025 Prize laureate will be announced at the opening of the PACE autumn plenary session in Strasbourg on September 29. The Václav Havel Human Rights Prize is awarded annually by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in partnership with the Václav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation. The prize consists of a sum of 60,000 euros, a trophy, and a diploma.

Since its inception, the prize has been awarded alternately to María Corina Machado (2024), Osman Kavala (2023), Vladimir Kara-Murza (2022), Maria Kalesnikava (2021), Loujain Alhathloul (2020), Ilham Tohti and the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (2019), Oyub Titiev (2018), Murat Arslan (2017), Nadia Murad (2016), Lyudmila Alexeyeva (2015), Anar Mammadli (2014), and Ales Bialiatski (2013).