Media.ge, Tbilisi, 09 Feb 2009 – The newspaper Batumelebi has been awarded the press prize by Institusjonen Fritt Ord (The Freedom of Expression Foundation), Oslo, in cooperation with the ZEIT Foundation, Hamburg. The annual prize is set to award journalists and media in Russia and Eastern Europe.
The independent jury for the press prizes is proud to announce its decision to award the newspaper Batumelebi – one of a total of seven Press Prizes for 2009 – Free Press of Russia and Free Press of Eastern Europe. The jury reached this decision at its meeting in Copenhagen on 14 January this year. The prize is accompanied by a cash award of EUR 30 000.
Batumelebi was nominated by Delegation Georgia, European Commission. The winners of the press prizes will be made public on 12 February 2009. The awards ceremony will be held at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo on 3 June 2009. Institusjonen Fritt Ord, Oslo will cover all travel expenses.
The press prizes are intended to support the independent role of journalists, despite reprisals and financial difficulties, and to encourage people not to be intimidated by censorship and to resist self-censorship.
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