- Title: Russia's Novaya Gazeta a possible Nobel peace prize nominee
- Date: 9th October 2019
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (FILE - SEPTEMBER 26, 2014) (REUTERS) MAN WALKING OUTSIDE NOVAYA GAZETA NEWSPAPER OFFICE NOVAYA GAZETA PLAQUE MAN WALKING DOWN CORRIDOR IN OFFICE NOVAYA GAZETA FRONT PAGES AND AWARDS ON DISPLAY BEHIND GLASS
- Embargoed: 23rd October 2019 16:31
- Keywords: Russai Novaya Gazeta Dmitry Muratov investigative journalism peace prize Nobel prize
- Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA,
- City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA,
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001B0DNA6F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: One of Russia's few remaining independent newspapers, Novaya Gazeta, is believed to have been nominated for this year's Nobel Peace Prize.
Over the 20 years of its operation, the newspaper known for its investigative reports on human rights abuses and corruption has come under increasing government pressure, been the target of cyber-attacks and had six of its journalists killed, the highest number for a single Russian newspaper.
Other contenders believed to be in the running for the Peace Prize include environmental activist Greta Thunberg and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Brazilian indigenous chief, Raoni Metuktire.
Media organisations in Russia are under tight state control and Moscow has been consolidating its grip on print media and the Internet, where some dissenting opinions can still be expressed. Many media outlets have been shut down, others changing owners and with them, editorial policy.
An uprising by Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine has seen Russian TV stations and newspapers used as a tool for the Kremlin to promote its view of the conflict. As a result, many Russians view the independent media as traitors.
Novaya Gazeta reporter Anna Politkovskaya was murdered in 2006, her killing drawing attention to the risks faced by Russians who challenge the authorities. She was best known for her dogged reporting on human rights violations in the North Caucasus province of Chechnya.
Five men were convicted of her murder in May 2014, but rights activists and relatives of Politkovskaya say that justice will not be done until those who ordered her contract-style killing are identified and convicted. Kremlin critics say they doubt that will ever happen because of suspicions the trail could lead too close to the government.
Novaya Gazeta was established more than two decades ago with the help of former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, who used some of the money he received for winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 to buy computers. The paper's independent editorial policy is maintained by its fragmented ownership. Gorbachev has a 10 percent share, while 39 percent is owned by media tycoon Alexander Lebedev, and 51 percent by the Novaya Gazeta staff.
The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced in Oslo on Friday October 11, at 1100 a.m. (0900 GMT).
The prize is worth 10 million Swedish crowns (1.4 million U.S. dollars).
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