ANKARA / ISTANBUL

Kosovo's Ambassador to Ankara Agon Vrenezi on Monday voted in Anadolu's annual Photos of the Year competition for the best photo in various categories, including Free Syria, which was introduced this year.

Vrenezi reviewed photographs taken throughout 2024 by Anadolu’s reporters and photojournalists from Türkiye and abroad.

The competition, supported by Roketsan, Lifebox, and Sony, included categories such as News, Wildlife and Environment, Sports, Daily Life, and a new category this year, Free Syria.

Emphasizing the significance of the Free Syria category, Vrenezi voted online for Emin Sansar’s photograph titled Lists.

The image portrays people in Damascus searching for their missing relatives by examining photographs posted on a morgue wall, following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

“The human toll of wars and trauma continues long after the conflict ends,” Vrenezi remarked.

He also noted that the image highlights the need for accountability for crimes committed under the ousted Syrian regime.

In the Wildlife and Environment category, the envoy selected Alper Tuydes’s photograph Among the Grass, “A beautiful bird showcasing the beauty of nature.”

He also praised the other images in the category as “exceptionally stunning photographs.”

Discussing the News category, Vrenezi noted the high quality of submissions and chose Katie McTiernan’s Path of Anguish.

He stressed the global significance of migration issues and the deep trauma experienced by families affected by displacement.

For the Daily Life category, which featured images from around the world, he voted for Osmancan Gurdogan’s Miners.

“As seen in the photo, the miners’ faces are covered in dust from working in coal mines. This image reflects their solidarity, unity, and resilience,” he said.

In the Sports category, he voted for Samir Jordamovic's Night Dive, which features torch-lit dives from the rebuilt Mostar Bridge in Bosnia and Herzegovina, commemorating its 20th anniversary of reconstruction.

“The story behind this bridge and the resilience of the Bosnian people go far beyond a simple sporting event,” Vrenezi stated.