The two journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov have won the Nobel Peace Prize 2021.
Chosen out of 329 candidates, the two journalists were awarded for their fights to defend freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia.
The Nobel committee called the pair “representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal”.
They both conducted hard-hitting investigations that have angered their countries’ rulers, and both have faced significant threats.
First Comments
Ms Ressa, who co-founded the news site Rappler, was commended for using freedom of expression to “Pavel Kanygin, a veteran reporter at Novaya Gazeta, told the Guardian: “It feels unreal. This is a great encouragement for us all, the last few months have been very difficult for Russian journalism, we had a feeling we are all approaching a tragic ending. We were running out of hope.
“I hope this prize will help to protect us against attacks from the authorities. This is an award that is important not just for us, but the whole Russian independent journalist community.
“Muratov is a living legend. He is very demanding but fair. Always wants us to go the extra mile, he is so passionate about his work.”
Speaking to the Russian news agency Tass, Muratov said of the prize: “I can’t take credit for this. This is Novaya Gazeta’s. It is that of those who died defending the right of people to freedom of speech. Now that they are no longer with us, they [the Nobel committee] probably decided that I should tell it to everyone.”
Muratov then proceeded to list journalists murdered in Russia for their work: “It’s for Igor Domnikov, it’s for Yura Shchekochikhin, it’s for Anna Stepanovna Politkovskaya, it’s for Nastya Baburova, it’s for Natasha Estemirova, it’s for Stas Markelov. This is for them.” abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country, the Philippines”.
