Nobel Peace Prize 2021 for two journalists: Filipina Maria Ressa and Russian Dmitry Muratov | For his efforts to “safeguard freedom of expression”

Filipino journalist María Ressa and Russian Dmitry Muratov receive the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for his fight for human rights in the Philippines and Russia. The Norwegian Nobel Committee highlighted their efforts “to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a prerequisite for democracy and lasting peace”.

The two are “the representatives of all journalists who defend this ideal in a world where democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly unfavorable conditions. “

María Ressa, founder of Rappler

Ressa, founder in 2012 of Rappler, an investigative journalism digital media company, “uses freedom of speech to denounce the abuse of power, the use of violence and increasing authoritarianism in his native Philippines“according to the Norwegian Committee.

As a journalist and CEO of Rappler, “she has proven to be a courageous advocate for free speech. Rappler focused his critical attention on the controversial and murderous anti-drug campaign of the (Rodrigo) Duterte regime.“added the committee in its explanation of this year’s award with reference to the President of the Philippines.

And he added that “Resa and Recall have also documented how social media is used to spread fake news, harass opponents and manipulate public discourse.”

The trajectory of Dmitry Muratov

As for Muratov, the Committee stressed that “For decades he defended freedom of expression in Russia under increasingly difficult conditions.

Muratov was in 1993 one of the founders of the independent newspaper Novaja Gazeta, “an important source of information on the reprehensible aspects of Russian society rarely mentioned by other media”.

The Norwegian Committee recalled that Since the start of the newspaper founded by Muratov, six of its journalists have been murdered.

“Free, independent and factual journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda. The Norwegian Nobel Committee is convinced that freedom of expression and freedom of information help to ensure an informed public, ”added those responsible for the announcement. price.

The Kremlin’s reaction to the Muratov Prize

The government of Russia praised the talent and courage of journalist Dmitry Muratov, editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Nóvaya Gazeta, winner of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.

“He (Muratov) is true to his ideals. He is talented and courageous,” commented the spokesperson for the Russian presidency., Dmitry Peskov, at his daily press conference.

Peskov added that the Kremlin congratulates Muratov on the high recognition, although He could not say whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will do so personally later.

2021 Nobel Laureates

The Nobel Peace Prize is the only one of six prizes awarded and awarded outside Sweden, in Oslo, at the express request of Alfred Nobel, because in his time Norway was part of the Swedish kingdom.

This award is the fifth of those announced to date, after the Medicine, Chemistry, Physics and Literature awards, and before the Economics award to be held next Monday.