This year, the award for the best investigation, established in memory of journalist Ulanbek Egizbaev, is taking on a new format — it is becoming popular. Azamat Tynaev, the chairman of the Public Fund for Investigative Journalism, spoke to 24.kg about the reasons for the transition to crowdfunding, the specifics of the jury's work, and the current challenges in the field of investigative journalism.
— Azamat, how was the Ulanbek Egizbaev Award established?
— The creation of the award took place after the tragic death of our colleague in July 2018. After his funeral, Roza Isakovna Otunbayeva invited me and Janar Akayev, proposing to create an organization that would support investigative journalism and determine the best investigation each year. As a result, on September 14 of the same year, the fund was registered, and its systematic activities began.
— Is the award independent? Is there any state involvement?
— Yes, the award is completely independent. State structures do not finance it and do not influence the jury's decisions. The fund operates autonomously and maintains a professional distance.
— Who can submit their works for the competition?
— Participation is open not only to citizens of Kyrgyzstan. Works are accepted in Kyrgyz and Russian languages, and they must be originally written in these languages, not translated. Materials should be accessible to a wide audience and must contain elements of investigation, whether they are full-fledged works or materials with elements of this genre. However, the award is primarily aimed at journalists covering local events in Kyrgyzstan.
— Are there different nominations?
— The award remains singular, for the best investigation of the year. We do not introduce separate nominations.
— Who makes up the jury?
— This year, the jury will consist of 10–11 authoritative specialists who are part of the fund's supervisory board. Among them are 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 and principled experts.
— Why is the award now considered "popular," and what prompted the transition to crowdfunding?
— In 2025, the media faced serious difficulties: external support programs, including from USAID, were closed, leading to the loss of sustainable funding for many projects. The idea of seeking support from citizens is not new — the first award was given on public funds, including donations from Roza Otunbayeva and deputies. This year, we are returning to the original model, as this form is fair and correct.
— What will the collected funds be used for?
— They will be used to organize the ceremony and the monetary part of the award. The amount needed for collection is relatively small — depending on the format of the event, from 150 to 250 thousand soms. It is important to note that neither the fund's employees 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 and openly show the collected funds and their expenditure.
— How active are people in fundraising?
— So far, the activity is low, but based on the experience of recent campaigns, the main donations come in the last days. We still have time, and the campaign continues.
— How many works have already been submitted for the competition?
— At the moment, only one work has been submitted. However, according to our estimates, last year there were at least twenty investigations. In the best years, we received more than eighty materials. This is a significant difference, reflecting the current dynamics in this field.
— Why has the number of investigations decreased?
— This is due to the fact that the genre has become more complex. Modern investigators must master many new tools: be able to work with large data sets, create interactive maps, analyze satellite images. Skills in digital fact-checking and understanding of technical aspects are necessary. But despite these changes, the main thing remains unchanged — accuracy, balance, and the ability to tell stories that can change reality.
Ulanbek Egizbaev became outstanding not because of modern technologies, but because of his unique style and ability to bring about real change.
— What message would you like to convey to the audience following the award?
— The audience plays a key role. The popularity of investigations — views, likes, comments, and reposts — is a public evaluation of the materials. I urge readers to actively participate in the life of the fund, support the popular award, form public interest in investigations, reach out to editorial offices with topic suggestions, and share facts. Without audience support, investigative journalism cannot develop. The most important thing in our profession is the reader.
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