Anna Politkovskaya-Arman Soldin Prize for Courage in Journalism – Call for applications

The Anna Politkovskaya-Arman Soldin Prize for Courage in Journalism will be awarded for the third time in early November 2025, to coincide with the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, established in 2013 by the United Nations at France’s initiative, in memory of French journalists Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, assassinated in Mali.

The aim of this prize is to distinguish the work of journalists and photojournalists committed to carrying out their essential role of informing people, in particular in theatres of conflict or during crises.

Through this prize, France reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the defence of freedom of the press and pays tribute to two emblematic figures of journalistic courage, killed in the performance of their duties. First, the Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, whose investigations published in the Novaya Gazeta on corruption, human rights violations and the war in Chechnya cost her her life, along with six of her colleagues. Second, the Franco-Bosnian AFP journalist and photojournalist Arman Soldin, killed on 9 May 2023 in the field, whose work helped inform the entire world of the reality of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

In 2024, the jury decided to recognize the work of Yuval Abraha, Israeli journalist, and Basel Adra, a Palestinian journalist, which focused on Israel’s settlements in the West Bank. Both journalists also belong to the Israeli-Palestinian collective that produced the documentary “No Other Land” last year, which won an Oscar in 2025.

Journalists wishing to apply for the 2025 prize may submit their application to presse.dcp at diplomatie.gouv.fr using this form, until midnight on 30 August 2025: download the form (Word - 37 Ko).

The Prize is accompanied by a lump-sum of €10,000, which must be used to finance a project carried out by the prizewinner.