The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded this Friday to two journalists, the Filipino Maria Ressa and the Russian Dimitri Muratov, for “their courageous fight for freedom of expression” in their respective countries, announced the Norwegian Nobel committee. Maria Ressa and Dimitri Muratov “are the representatives of all the journalists who defend this ideal in a world where democracy and freedom of the press are faced with increasingly unfavorable conditions”, declared the president of the Nobel committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen, in Oslo.
BREAKING NEWS:
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.#NobelPrize #NobelPeacePrize pic.twitter.com/KHeGG9YOTT– The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 8, 2021
Aged 59, Muratov, one of the founders and editor-in-chief of the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta “Has for decades defended freedom of expression in Russia under increasingly difficult conditions,” said the jury. As for Maria Ressa (58 years old), with her investigative media Rapper co-founded in 2012, “she uses freedom of expression to expose the abuse of power and increasing authoritarianism in her native country, the Philippines”, led by Rodrigo Duterte, he says.
Kremlin congratulates Dmitry Muratov
The Kremlin praised the “courage” and the “talent” of Dmitry Muratov: “We can congratulate Dmitry Muratov. He works continuously by following his ideals, keeping them. He is talented and courageous, ”Russian presidency spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. In her first reaction, Maria Ressa declared that “nothing is possible without the facts”.
Press freedom, never sacred until now, was among the favorites for this year but the 329 candidates running were kept secret. The prize – a gold medal, a diploma and a sum of 10 million Swedish crowns (nearly 980,000 euros) – must be physically presented on December 10 in Oslo if sanitary conditions allow it. Last year, the Nobel Peace Prize awarded the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) for its efforts against hunger in the world.
After peace, the only Nobel awarded in Oslo, the season of prizes awarded since 1901 ends Monday in Stockholm with the economy.