Georgian media outlet honoured for critical journalism during Ukraine crisis

A Georgian online media outlet has been internationally recognised and honoured for its critical journalism during the crisis in Ukraine.

The online medium Netgazeti was awarded the 2015 Fritt Ord Foundation and the ZEIT Foundation Press Prizes. These are, respectively, Norwegian and German organisations that aspire to promote freedom of expression and public debate.

Netgazeti, who will receive €15,000 (35,700 GEL) was awarded for "having given its readers a good platform for understanding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine”. The news outlet was also praised for impartially reporting on the details of violations of the rights of Georgian Muslims, violence against women and homophobia.

Netgazeti was nominated for a prize by the German Embassy in Tbilisi and by the Heinrich Boll Foundation's office in South Caucasus.

Meanwhile, a handful of other international media and journalists were awarded the same honours. These winners were the weekly newspaper Pskovskaya Guberniya and its editor Galina Timchenko from Russia, the news agency Slidstvo.Info, as well as journalists Serhiy Harmash and Valentyna Samar from Ukraine.

"[The winners] have not given in to the fear of censorship and reprisals,” said the contest organisers.

The Press Prizes, amounting to a total of €75,000, will be awarded at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo on June 24, 2015.