This year, the award established in memory of journalist Ulanbek Egizbaev is being held in a new format — as a popular award. Azamat Tynaev, chairman of the Public Foundation for Investigative Journalism, spoke to 24.kg about the reasons for the transition to crowdfunding, the work of the jury, and the current challenges for investigative journalism.
— Azamat, how did the idea of creating the Ulanbek Egizbaev Award come about?
— The initiative was launched after the tragic death of our colleague in July 2018. After the funeral, Roza Isakovna Otunbayeva suggested to me and Janar Akayev to create an organization that would develop investigative journalism and annually determine the best investigation. The foundation was registered on September 14 of the same year, marking the beginning of our systematic work.
— Is the award independent? Is there any state involvement?
— Yes, the award is completely independent. Government structures do not finance it and do not influence the jury's decisions. The foundation operates autonomously, maintaining professional distance.
— Who can submit their works for the competition?
— The competition is open not only to Kyrgyz citizens. Works can be submitted in Kyrgyz and Russian languages, and they must be written in these languages, not translated. The materials must be publicly available and contain elements of investigation, whether it is a full investigation or a piece with investigative elements. However, the award is primarily aimed at journalists working in Kyrgyzstan and covering local events.
— Are there any special nominations?
— The award remains singular, given for the best investigation of the year. We do not introduce separate nominations.
— Who is on the jury?
— This year, the jury is formed from members of the foundation's supervisory board, consisting of 10–11 authoritative specialists, including well-known journalists and media managers such as Almaz Ismanov, Toktosun Shambetov, Ondurush Toktonasirov, and Shamil Ibragimov. All of them have a reputation as independent experts.
— The award has received the status of "popular." What prompted the transition to crowdfunding?
— The year 2025 turned out to be challenging for the media: many external support programs, including USAID, were closed, and several projects were left without funding. We decided to return to the historical model when the award was financed by popular means, which was originally intended. The award should be popular; it is fair and right.
— How will the collected funds be used?
— The collected funds will go towards organizing the ceremony and cash prizes. The amount that needs to be raised varies from 150,000 to 250,000 soms depending on the format of the event. It is important to note that neither the foundation's staff nor the members of the supervisory board will receive fees or salaries from these funds. Crowdfunding will last until February 12, when the ceremony will take place, during which we will summarize the results and disclose information about the collected funds and their expenditures.
— What are the results of the fundraising so far?
— So far, only one work has been submitted. However, according to our estimates, at least twenty investigations were published last year. In the best years, we received over eighty materials. This is a significant difference and reflects the overall trends in this area.
— Why has the number of investigations decreased?
— The genre has become significantly more complex. A modern investigator must possess many skills: work with big data, create interactive maps, and analyze satellite images. Skills in digital fact-checking and understanding technical details are necessary. But despite this, the main thing remains the same — credibility, balance, and the ability to tell stories that impact reality.
Ulanbek Egizbaev achieved success not through modern technologies, but through his unique style and ability to bring about real change.
— What would you like to say to the audience following the award?
— The audience plays a key role. The popularity of investigations — views, likes, comments, reposts — serves as a public assessment of the materials. I urge readers to actively participate in the life of the foundation, support the popular award, form a public demand for investigations, reach out to editorial offices, suggest topics, and share facts. Without audience support, investigative journalism cannot exist. The most important thing in our profession is the reader.
Details for fundraising:
