"S.Matayev has been awarded with the medal "For bravery" named after well-known rights advocate A.Sakharov in the nomination "Journalism as a deed" .
“The jury has considered dozens of candidatures of rights advocates, journalists and civil activists. S.Matayev did not apply for the premium, but the decision to award him came from the contest organizers," said the jury members.
The medal "For bravery" is one of prestigious awards for activists who have been prosecuted by the authorities for their active civil position. The prize was established in 2001. The jury includes writers, journalists, rights advocates and sociologists. Among the laureates of the prize have been Anna Politkovskaya, Otto Lacis, Boris Vishnevskiy, editorials of Radio Freedom, Russian service BBC, Novaya Gazeta, Echo of Moscow radio.
"22 journalists, publishers, bloggers from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan who faced prosecution for their civil position have been awarded," said the jury.
"Among the laureates are the authors convicted to different terms or paying sentence, those who faced prosecution, who remain faithful to themselves, despite the provocations, intimidations and attacks. These are people who did not fear to oppose the state power," said the organizers.
The organizers said publicity exists thanksgiving to these people.
The award ceremony will take place in the second half of January.
Photo source: picture from an open source