Maria Dahle, the executive director of Norwegian Human Rights House foundation, praised Aliyev as a journalist, media manager, and citizen. In his acceptance speech Mehman Aliyev declared that the award was not just his, but for all of Azerbaijani civil society.
International human rights and media rights organizations support the ongoing struggle for free media and freedom of expression in Azerbaijan. A number of representatives from opposition and independent media have been awarded by various international organizations.