On 2 January, the names of Azadlig newspaper correspondents who were announced winners by the State Support Fund to Mass Media under President were omitted during the program on AzTV dedicated to the results of the competition. According to Azadlig newspaper, this was carried out at the order of AzTV Chairman Arif Alishanov directly.

AzTV Press Service Head Khatire Gasimova told the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) that this was not done intentionally.
“Not all the winners’ names were broadcasted in the program,” said Gasimova. “Besides Azadlig newspaper, winners from several other newspapers were not included in the program.”
33 journalists became the winners in the individual journalist articles competition announced on 5 November by the State Support Fund to Mass Media under President.