Journalists Maria Ressa, Dmitry Muratov win 2021 Nobel Peace Prize 

Journalists Maria Ressa from the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia have won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Both were chosen for their courageous fight for freedom of expression which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.  

The Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo has given the 2021 Peace Prize on Friday (today).

Committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen announced, "Ms. Ressa and Mr. Muratov are receiving the Peace Prize for their courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia”.

"At the same time, they are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions," she added.

Maria (58) is the founder and CEO of Rappler, an online news site combating misinformation and documenting the human rights abuses carried out by Philippine President Rodridgo Duterte's administration as part of his brutal war on drugs.

In 2020, she was convicted of online libel under the country's controversial anti-cybercrime law, which critics say is merely a guise for "cyber-authoritarianism."

Muratov was the editor-in-chief of Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta from 1995 to 2017. Known for its investigative journalism covering corruption and crime, seven of the paper's journalists have been murdered since 2000.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has called Novaya Gazeta the "only truly critical newspaper with national influence in Russia today," amidst President Vladimir Putin's crackdown on dissent.

Each year, the committee permits nominations from a large pool of experts, such as academics, lawmakers, and previous recipients.

In addition, the winners are invited to Norway to give a Nobel lecture and receive a monetary prize worth 10 million Swedish kronor (over $1.14 million; €980,000).

Last year’s prize went to the World Food Programme for its efforts to combat hunger and food insecurity around the globe.