The Anti-Corruption Fund announced the winners of the 2022 Red Line Awards for Journalism against Corruption

At a special ceremony on International Anti-Corruption Day, 9 December, the Anti-Corruption Fund (ACF) announced the winners of the 2022 Red Line Awards for Journalism Against Corruption.

The awards jury, chaired by Assoc. Prof. Georgi Lozanov, professor of journalism and media expert, and members Svetlana Dzhamdzhieva, editor-in-chief of Club Z, Kalin Manolov, journalist, lawyer Stoyan Madin and Stefan Krastev from the ACF team, reviewed 36 nominations of journalists in all categories of the competition.

The jury awarded 6 prizes:

The Grand Award for Investigative Journalism goes to Genka Shikerova of Free Europe for a series of articles presenting little-known facts on several emblematic cases: the tax evasion by Lukoil Neftohim Burgas, the border control at the Captain Andreyevo BCP, the rigged auction schemes in the sale of firewood  and the ambiguities in the biography of the caretaker energy minister.

A Special Award for Investigative Journalism goes to Ivaylo Stanchev of Capital for a series of stories raising suspicions of conflict of interest, rigged procurement, and abuse at Kozloduy NPP.

The Regional Journalism Award goes to Lalka Dimitrova of Darik Burgas for exposing the regional dimensions of a problem of European importance – the lack of a reliable identification system for asylum seekers entering Bulgaria.

The Award for Promoting the Rule of Law goes to Polina Paunova, Capital, for a series of articles that systematically highlight practices contrary to the rule of law at the highest levels of power. One of the articles nominating Polina Paunova can be read here

In 2022, the jury also awarded the Special Prize for the Promotion of the Principles of the Rule of Law to Tatiana Vaksberg, Free Europe, for a series of publications promoting basic concepts of international humanitarian law and their relation to the war in Ukraine. One of the articles nominating Tatiana Vaksberg can be read here

The Young Journalist Award goes to Christian Yulzari for an original and in-depth investigation into suspicions of abuse in the allocation of funds for the development of youth activities by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

In 2022, The Anti-Corruption Fund is presenting the Red Line Awards for the third time. The ACF states that this is a long-term effort to develop the anti-corruption journalism community.

“Without the courage of journalists, who are relentless in exposing well-hidden abuses and injustices to the public, the fight against corruption is impossible. This is the message of the awards. We hope that they celebrate the journalistic community’s key contributions to exposing and countering corrupt practices,” said Boyko Stankushev, Director of the Anti-Corruption Fund.

The “Red Line” Competition for Journalism against Corruption is organized with the support of America for Bulgaria Foundation.

Link to the Red Line 2022 live stream