Mehr News Agency Honored at Expert of the Year 2025 Awards in Moscow
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the 14th annual Expert of the Year 2025 awards ceremony took place in Moscow, recognizing outstanding achievements across various sectors. Experts, media representatives, economic executives, and public figures from 12 nations, including Iran, India, and Brazil, attended the event, which celebrated top projects in 16 categories.
The Expert of the Year award honors professionals who have implemented innovative ideas and initiatives in economics, media, public administration, culture, industry, and social activities. These initiatives often operate behind the scenes but significantly impact national development and international cooperation. With the backing of TV BRICS, the award has grown from a national event to a prestigious international platform.
The competition now spans 20 specialized categories, encompassing media outlets, international projects, managers, and experts shaping the global professional landscape. Participation is free, and the final statement is published in six languages, underscoring the award’s global reach and positioning it as a key platform for recognizing professional elites and international cooperation experts worldwide.
This year, Mehr News Agency was named one of the top three international winners, solidifying its role as a leading regional media outlet in public diplomacy, particularly in fostering relations between Iran and the BRICS countries. The jury acknowledged Mehr’s active role in advancing media cooperation, producing analytical content, and providing a realistic portrayal of Tehran-Moscow relations.
Mohammad-Mehdi Rahmati, CEO of Mehr Media Group, expressed his delight in a video message sent to the ceremony, noting that the recognition reflects the impact of Iranian media in presenting a balanced view of Tehran-Moscow relations. He emphasized that Mehr Media Group, especially since becoming a media partner of TV BRICS in 2023, has strived to play a significant role in showcasing the historical and cultural ties between the two countries.
Rahmati highlighted the vast economic and cultural potential of Iran-Russia cooperation, stating, “Mehr’s selection demonstrates that we have not only fulfilled our social responsibility in portraying this connection but have also addressed segments of these potentials.”
He also pointed out the challenge of Western media’s portrayal of regional relations and emphasized, “The efforts spearheaded by TV BRICS in recent years to correct this trend and provide a more accurate picture of countries’ capabilities and cooperation are a valuable asset and can serve as a model for global media cooperation. I hope we can also play an effective role in this direction.”
The ceremony also recognized other international winners, including Masoud Ahmadvand, cultural advisor at the Iranian Embassy in Russia, whose cultural project, “Patterns of Friendship,” was lauded. The Brazilian media outlet Brasil de Fato and its director, Nina Fideles, were also honored in the “International Media” category.
Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the Hermitage Museum and Chairman of the Expert Council of the award, emphasized the importance of human assessment in the age of automation, stating that nothing is more important than “professional credibility” in scientific, cultural, and economic activities.
Sammy Kotwani, President of the Indian Business Alliance in Russia, who presented the award in the “Finance and Investment” sector, noted that the event significantly strengthens public diplomacy and cooperation among BRICS countries.
Other international awardees included Sonu Saini, a professor at the Center for Russian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in India; Amazing Grace Ajayi, a Nigerian documentary filmmaker; and Amjad Othman, a media advisor for the Middle East News Agency, all recognized by the Expert Council of the award.
The Expert of the Year award, established in 2012, aims to identify specialists who have presented innovative projects in economics, science, industry, public administration, and social activities. TV BRICS has been an international media partner of the event since 2024.
