This year’s awarded stories highlight the role of investigative journalism in strengthening freedom of expression, advancing the rule of law, and promoting transparency and accountability across the region. Each winning investigation represents how reporting can challenge abuse of power, expose corruption, and bring pressing social issues to light.
We are proud to present the powerful stories and journalists recognised in 2025:
REGIONAL AWARD
1st Prize: Maja Jovanovska and Bojan Stojanovski, IRL, North Macedonia
“Службеничка од пошта ги штитела централите на ЕСМ од пепел, „пеплосан“ државниот буџет (“A postal clerk protected the power plants of ESM from ash, while the state budget was left ‘ash-covered’’)
2nd Prize: Xhorxhina Bami, Balkan Insight
“TikTok Used Across Balkans to ‘Slutshame’ Women and Girls”
3rd Prize: Saša Dragojlo, BIRN Serbia
“Srbija ove godine u Izrael izvezla naoružanje vredno 23 miliona eura” (“Serbia exported weapons worth 23 million euros to Israel this year”)
ALBANIA
1st Prize: Geri Emiri and Erjola Azizolli, Amfora.al
“Resorti tek Gjiri i Manastirit shkatërroi potencialin arkeologjik të Parkut të Butrintit” (“The Resort at Monastery Bay Destroying the Archaeological Potential of Butrint Park.”)
2nd Prize shared:
- Vladimir Karaj, al
“Si në burg’: Punëtorët afrikanë përballen me privim lirie dhe shfrytëzim në Shqipëri (“Like Prison: How African Migrant Workers Suffer Exploitation in Albania”)
- Edmor Hoxhaj, Reporter.al
“KPK kërkoi donacion nga kompania e Kastratit, duke i kujtuar një tender të fituar më pare” (“KPK requested a donation from Kastrati’s company, recalling a previously won tender”)
3rd Prize: Erisa Kryeziu and Esmeralda Keta, Citizen.al
“Na shfrytëzojnë deri në palcë”; Gratë në fasoneri ankohen për kushtet e punës” (“They exploit us to the core”; Women in tailoring complain about working conditions”)
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
1st Prize: Jelena Jevtić, and Mubarek Asani, CIN
“Gdje je Sara?” (“Where is Sara?”)
2nd Prize: Dejan Rakita, Objavi.ba
Projekt Litijum:“Lopare među javom snom i košmarom” (“Project Lithium: Lopare between reality, dream, and nightmare.”) – Part One, Part Two, Part Three
3rd Prize shared:
- Predrag Blagovčanin, Tacno.net
“UNDP i Kanton Sarajevo: Kako smo izbjegli plaćanje pet miliona PDV-a” (“UNDP and Sarajevo Canton: How we avoided paying five million in VAT”)
- Dženita Čolak, CIN
“Čelična rana Zenice!” (“Steel Wound of Zenica”)
KOSOVO
1st Prize: Ardiana Thaçi Mehmeti, Kiks Kosova – Klan Kosova
“Iu publikua numri në “AlbKings”, gazetarja Thaçi-Mehmeti raporton në Polici 31 burra për ngacmim (VIDEO)” (“Her number was published on “AlbKings”, journalist Thaçi-Mehmeti reports 31 men to the Police for harassment (VIDEO)”)
2nd Prize: Besian Beha, Nacionale.com
1st Story:’Gjahu’ i qeverisë ndaj hetuesve diskutohet në Kuvend: Pritet të ftohet në raportim ministri dhe drejtori i Policisë (“The government’s ‘hunt’ against investigators is debated in Parliament: Minister and Police Director expected to be summoned for reporting”)
2nd Story:Ekskluzive: Si po tentohet të kontrollohen hetimet e korrupsionit nëpërmjet rregullores së re për Njësinë e Veçantë të Policisë? (“Exclusive: How is the new regulation attempting to control corruption investigations through the Special Police Unit?”)
3rd Story: Policia e konfirmon pas pesë muajsh – Zyrtarët që hetuan korrupsionin e qeverisë Kurti, drejt largimit nëpër njësi tjera (“Police confirms after five months – Officials who investigated corruption of the Kurti government heading for relocation to other units”)
4th Story: Raporti i Progresit konfirmon raportimin e Nacionales për Njësitin që lufton korrupsionin, kërkon bashkëpunim me Prokurorinë Speciale (“Progress Report confirms Nacionale’s reporting on the Unit fighting corruption, calls for cooperation with the Special Prosecution”
5th Story: Eprori i Policisë e konfirmon se emrat e hetuesve nuk janë në sistem: Ka probleme teknike (“Police official confirms that investigators’ names are not in the system: There are technical problems”)
3rd Prize shared:
- Saranda Ramaj, Koha.net
“Me ndihmën e VV-së, Komuna e Prishtinës ndërroi pronat me dy ish-klientë të Ramës” (“With the help of VV, the Municipality of Pristina swapped properties with two former clients of Rama”)
- Sandra Cvetković and Doruntina Baliu, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
“Shitblerje të dyshimta e uzurpime – Lufta e pasuksesshme për kthimin e pronave në Kosovë” (“Suspicious sales and usurpations – The unsuccessful fight for property restitution in Kosovo”)
MONTENEGRO
1st Prize: Tatjana Ašanin, Nikola Milosavljević Aleksić, TV Vijesti
“META:Država rođak” (“Target: The State of Relatives)
2nd Prize shared:
- Jovan Nikitović, Pobjeda
“Za kulturna dobra u kontejneru niko ne pita već četiri godine” (“No one has asked about the cultural goods in the container for four years”)
- Ivan Ivanović, BIRN Montenegro
“Big Brother: Montenegrin Ministry of Interior Acquires Israeli Facial Recognition Software”
3rd Prize: Dejan Milovac and Lazar Grdinić (MANS)
“Kako je bivši operativac ANB-a sticao vrijednu imovinu: million za nekretnine i vozila” (“How a Former ANB Operative Acquired Valuable Assets: A Million for Real Estate and Vehicles.”)
NORTH MACEDONIA
1st Prize: Aleksandar Dimitrievski and Mihail Milosevski, 360 degrees
“По трагите на ‘Јулија”(“Following Julia’s footsteps”)
2nd Prize: Saska Cvetkovska, Bojan Stojanovski, Aleksandra Denkovska Gocevska, Trifun Sitnikovski, Aleksandar Janev, and David Ilievski, IRL
“Украдени животи” (“Stolen Lives”)
3rd Prize: Srgjan Stojancov and Snezana Lupevska Sozen from Magazine KOD, TV Telma
“Досие Крмзов – Епски криминал или обид да му се одземе бизнисот“ (“Krmzov file – an epic crime or an attempt to take away his business”)
SERBIA
1st Prize: Aleksa Tešić and Saša Dragojlo, BIRN Serbia
“Dokazano: BIA hakuje telephone aktivista” (“Proven: BIA Hacks Activists’ Phones”)
2nd Prize:
- Gordana Andrić, Dragana Prica Kovačević, BIRN Srbija
“Porodično nasilje nad djecom: nevidljive žrtve” (“Domestic Violence Against Children: The Invisible Victims”)
- Teodora Ćurčić, Stefan Marković, Jovana Tomić, CINS
Podcast “Tragovi”, Sezona “Jama” (“Traces,” Season “The Pit”)
3rd Prize: Stevan Dojčinović, Bojana Jovanović, Sofija Parojčić, and Dragana Pećo, KRIK-Mreža za istraživanje kriminala i korupcije
- “Policijska prijava: Nebojša Stefanović i Marko Parezanović pomagali Šarićevom klanu (“Police Report: Nebojša Stefanović and Marko Parezanović Aided the Šarić Clan”)”
- “Tešić preko Piona iz SNS izbegava sankcije i zarađuje milione evra” (“Tešić Uses SNS ‘Pawns’ to Evade Sanctions and Earn Millions of Euros”)
TÜRKIYE
1st Prize: Asuman Aranca Kol, t24.com.tr
“Ayhan Bora Kaplan’ın kara para dosyasındaki MASAK raporuna, Yargıtay üyesi Yüksel Kocaman’a gönderilen ‘kira ödemeleri’ de girdi!” (“The ‘rent payments’ sent to Supreme Court member Yüksel Kocaman were also included in the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) report on Ayhan Bora Kaplan’s money laundering case!”)
2nd Prize: İsmail Arı, Birgun.net
“Kamu vakfı naylon faturalarla soyulmuş” (“Public foundation robbed with nylon bills)
3rd Prize: İlknur Yağumlı and Ahmet Sesli, KRT Web sitesi ve Televizyonu
“İstanbul Anadolu Adliyesi’nde ponzi iddiası: 150 milyonluk vurgun yapıldı, içinde savcılar da var” (“Ponzi scheme allegation at Istanbul Anatolian Courthouse: 150 million lira scam, including prosecutors”)
Jury Special Award: Gülseven Özkan, Medyascope İnternet Haber Merkezi
“ÖZEL HABER: Şebekeler 150 bin dolara yabancılara sahte evrakla vatandaşlık satıyor” (“EXCLUSIVE NEWS: Networks sell citizenship to foreigners with fake documents for $150,000”)
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