In recognition of their work fighting for freedom of expression, Russia’s Novaya Gazeta Editor-in-Chief Dmitry Muratov and Philippine journalist Maria Ressa were awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony held at the Norwegian capital of Oslo’s City Hall on Friday.
The Nobel Committee praised Muratov, one of the founders of the independent Russian newspaper in 1993, and Ressa, who co-founded the Filipino government critical news website Rappler, for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression as a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.
The Committee to Protest Journalists (CPJ) Executive Director Joel Simon stressed that the Nobel Peace Prize going into journalists’ hands is a powerful recognition of their tireless work and eternal struggle.
It comes a time of unprecedented crackdowns on members of the press, digital surveillance, and an erosion of public trust in journalism and on the same day when, ironically, the London High Court greenlighted WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition to the US where he’ll face espionage charges for publishing classified documents.
Just hours after the awards ceremony, the Russian Ministry of Justice restricted the ability to work freely to eight journalists and several news outlets by adding them to its list of “ foreign agents”.
The decision to award the two journalists was made in October and the Norwegian Nobel Committee was choosing among 329 candidates – 234 individuals and 95 organizations- nominated for the Nobel Prize.
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