Oslo, FEF, 06 Mar 2009 – The Freedom of Expression Foundation of Oslo and the ZEIT Foundation of Hamburg are proud to announce that the press prizes “Free Press of Russia” and “Free Press of Eastern Europe” for 2009 will be awarded to four journalists and three newspapers from Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Armenia and Georgia. The prizes are accompanied by a total of MNOK 1,1 or EUR 130 000.
Zoya Svetova and Roman Shleynov from Russia, Natiq Javadli from Azerbaijan and Marianna Grigoryan from Armenia are the winners of the four prizes for journalism. The newspaper prizes will be awarded to Azaliq of Azerbaijan, Novy Chas of Belarus and Batumelebi of Georgia.
The nominations of this year’s press prize laureates indicate that the situation for freedom of the press and expression is deteriorating in several Eastern European countries. Attacks on the independent press are illustrated by the never-ending lawsuits filed by the authorities against journalists, editors and newspapers. The authorities use libel provisions to prevent investigative journalism, limit public debate and suppress open criticism of the authorities, high-ranking civil servants or other powerful players.
Threats, interrogations, searches, burglaries, arrests, imprisonment and physical assaults are routine events for several of the prize laureates. Due to extensive self-censorship, it can be difficult for critical journalists to find newspapers willing to publish their articles.
The Press Prize award ceremony will be held on 3 June 2009 at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo.
The winners of the 2009 Free Press of Russia and Free Press of Eastern Europe Awards:
Azerbaijan
Natiq Javadli works as a journalist for the oppositional newspaper Bizim Yol in Baku. His shrewd, critical analyses often deal with corruption and reveal abuses of human rights in Azerbaijan. Natiq Gavadli is behind a series of interesting interviews in which he explores current topics through discussions with well-known politicians and experts. He was nominated by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, the Human Rights House Foundation, Oslo, Norwegian PEN and Rauf Mirkadirov, a political commentator in Azerbaijan. The prize is accompanied by EUR 10 000.
Azadliq is one of the few critical daily newspapers in Azerbaijan. The newspaper is part of the opposition press, which maintains an uncompromising attitude in respect of the government. As one of the most prominent critical newspapers, Azaliq has been subjected to numerous assaults from the authorities. The newspaper’s editor-in-chief Ganimat Zahidov and his brother Sakit Zahidov, a poet and journalist, are currently in prison for their journalistic endeavours. Azaliq plays a key role in journalistic training. Many independent oppositional journalists in Azerbaijan have learned their trade there. The newspaper was nominated by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, the Human Rights House Foundation, Oslo, Norwegian PEN and Rauf Mirkadirov, a political commentator in Azerbaijan. The prize is accompanied by EUR 30 000.
Armenia
Marianna Grigoryan is a freelance journalist based in Yerevan. She was previously a reporter for and editor of the online newspaper ArmeniaNow (www.armenianow.com). Today she mainly works for the online newspaper EurasiaNet (www.eurasianet.org). Marianna Grigoryan writes independently on topics relating to domestic and foreign policy alike. Her reports are analytical and offer fresh perspectives. She was nominated by Ruben Mangasaryan, editor-in-chief of National Geographic TravelerArmenia and director of the Patker Photo Agency. The award includes a cash prize of EUR 10 000.
Georgia
Batumelebi is an independent, innovative weekly newspaper published in Batumi, capital of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. Over the past two years, Batumelebi has gone from being a regional newspaper to becoming a national newspaper that represents a strong, highly professional contribution to the Georgian media landscape. The newspaper is a prime example of freedom of the press, journalistic principles and human courage. The newspaper was nominated by Günter Verheugen, Vice President of the EU Commission, and Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner of the EU Commission. The prize is accompanied by EUR 30 000.
The award decisions have been taken by an independent jury consisting of Falk Bomsdorf, (Moscow), Jo Groebel (Berlin), Gro Holm (Oslo), Theo Sommer (Hamburg), Michael Thumann (Istanbul), Vibeke von Sperling (Oslo/Copenhagen), Markus Wehner (Berlin), and Hans-Georg Wieck (Berlin).
The press prizes are intended to support the independent role of journalists, despite reprisals and financial difficulties, to encourage them not to be intimidated by censorship and to resist self-censorship.
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