The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winners, who will receive 10 million Swedish kronor (more than a million dollars), are Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov and Filipino writer Maria Resso. According to the Nobel Committee, the prize was awarded to the editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta and the master of the pen, Resso, «for his efforts to protect freedom of expression, which is a prerequisite for democracy and lasting peace».
«Despite the killings [of employees] and threats, Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief Dmytro Muratov did not abandon the newspaper's independent policy. He consistently defended the rights of journalists. As a journalist and co-founder of Rappler, Maria Ressa has established herself as a fearless defender of freedom of speech. Rappler critically covered Duterte's scandalous and bloody anti-drug campaign. Maria Ressa enjoys the fundamental right to freedom of speech to expose abuse of power, violence and growing authoritarianism in her home country, the Philippines,» said Norwegian Nobel Committee Chair Berit Reis-Andersen.
It will be recalled that this year there were 95 organizations and 234 individuals nominated for the Nobel Prize. Among them: Russian Navalny, Belarusian oppositionist Tikhanovskaya and Swedish environmental activist Thunberg.
The names of all nominees for the award will be announced only in 50 years.