Azerbaijani journalist becomes laureate of Gerd Bucerius Prize

Zamin Gadji, a journalist of opposition media of Azerbaijan, has become one of the six laureates of the 2011 Prize "Free Press of Eastern Europe" named after Gerd Bucerius and awarded by the German Foundation "Zeit-Stiftung" and the Norwegian Foundation "Free Speech".

"Zamin Gadji is a columnist for the opposition newspapers 'Azadlyg' and 'Eni Musavat' and is toughly criticizing in his articles poor governance, abuse of power and corruption. He is considered to be one of the best investigative journalists in Azerbaijan. Mr Gadji is known for his sarcastic pen. More than once he was subjected to pressure and threats," says the joint release of the German and Norwegian Foundations received by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Zamin Gadji was nominated for the Gerd Bucerius Prize by its last year's laureate Shakhveled Chobanoglu, and by the Norwegian Human Rights House and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.

Other laureates are the "Chernovik" weekly from Makhachkala; news website "A1plus" from Armenia; Natalia Ivanishina, a columnist with the Irkutsk-based newspaper "Ust-Ilimskaya Pravda"; Marina Koktysh, deputy editor-in-chief of the Minsk-based newspaper "Narodnaya Volya; and Natalia Ligachova, chief editor Ukrainian website "Telekritica".

The total sum of monetary Prizes makes 70,000 euros.