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Corruption exposé wins award
The Peter Mackler journalism award goes to Russian journalist for his investigation into high level corruption
di Staff
Courage, ethics and accuracy. It is thanks to these three traits that a Russian investigative journalist, Ilya Barabanov, has been selected as winner of the Peter Mackler 2010 journalism award.
Ilya Barabanov is deputy editor of the New Times, an opposition news weekly in Russia which has been the target of an attempted illegal search and a lawsuit by the Russian government. Barabanov, who is only 24, has decried the aborted search & seizure of the New Times editorial offices . He charged that the search, carried out in connection with a case filed against the New Times by the Russian interior minister’s OMON security forces, violated Articles 41 and 49 of the Russian Media Law. The New Times had previously published an article citing unnamed OMON sources and describing corrupt practices within OMON. Camille J. Mackler, Project Director for the Peter Mackler Award, said that “Barabanov has displayed enormous courage in standing up for journalistic independence and the Russian people’s right to free and balanced news. These character traits are what the Peter Mackler Award seeks to encourage and reward.”
The plight of journalists in Russia continues to be a concern of the international community. Barabanov’s nomination comes amid growing accusations of internet censorship and government intimidation of journalists. In addition, the murders of journalists Natalia Estemirova and Anna Politkovskaya, remain unsolved. “We are delighted to know this award goes to Ilya Barabanov”, Jean-François Julliard, Secretary General of Reporters Without Borders said. “Being a journalist in Russia is one of the toughest jobs around. Russian journalists need to be supported and recognized worldwide for the work they do. Ilya’s talent, courage and persistence are essential to Russian journalism.” Reporters Without Borders ranked Russia 153rd out of 175 countries in their 2009 Press Freedom Index.
Barabanov will be awarded the prize at a ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on October 22, 2010. Last year’s winner, Sri Lankan journalist and editor J.S. Tissainayagam, will speak at the presentation.
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