This year’s award focused on the right to peaceful protest and its media coverage. The jury awarded first place to Mariam Nikuradze, journalist and co-founder of OC Media. Manana Kveliashvili, a journalist from “Batumelebi,” took second place.
The event featured speeches from Pert Kubernat, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Georgia; Rebecca Lee, Deputy Head of Mission/Second Secretary of the Embassy of Norway; and Lela Ciskarishvili, Chair of the Tbilisi Human Rights House. Additionally, Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, addressed the attendees via video.
A panel discussion on the importance of protest coverage included journalists Mariam Nikuradze, Nastasia Arabuli, and Aleksandre Keshelashvili, moderated by media expert Nino Danelia.
Journalists from “Radio Liberty,” “Publika,” OC Media, “Studio Monitor,” and “Batumelebi” were nominated for the award, as decided by non-governmental and media organizations.
The 2024 award was supported by the Czech Embassy in Georgia and the Human Rights House Foundation, with representatives from the diplomatic corps, media, and various local and international organizations in attendance.
