Russia
Young journalist speaks out against brutal suppression, receives awardPosted Sep 16 2010
In an era of increasing government regulation of the media, many Russian journalists are practicing self-censorship in order to protect themselves and their publications. Ilya Barabanov, deputy editor of The New Times, is not one of these self-censoring journalists.
Barabanov has been targeted by the Russian government for exposing abuses and violations within a Moscow police subdivision (OMON) in his exposé entitled “The Slave of OMON.” Because of this article, as well as his resistance in the face of press censorship in his country, Reporters Without Borders has awarded Barabanov, 24, with the Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism. Project director for the award, Camille J. Mackler, said that Barabanov “has displayed enormous courage in standing up for journalistic independence and the Russian people’s right to free and balanced news.”