Georgiy Gongadze Award: New Laureate Among War Heroes
This year, the Georgiy Gongadze Award was awarded to Ivan Lyubish-Kirdey, a photographer and war correspondent for Reuters.
"Receiving this award is a significant achievement for me. I am extremely happy, but this is just the beginning. We have a lot of work ahead, and I am determined to continue working for an independent Ukraine," he stated during the award ceremony.
In August 2024, while on assignment in Kramatorsk, Ivan sustained serious injuries when Russian forces struck the "Sapphire" hotel.
As a result of this attack, other journalists were also affected. Ivan fell into a coma due to his injuries.
At the beginning of October 2024, he regained consciousness and began to speak.
"We do not always recognize the importance of those behind the scenes – those who take photos, edit, and help us understand. It is symbolic that this year's laureate is not someone who suffered, but someone who continues to work despite difficulties," emphasized Yevhen Hlibovytskyi, a jury member.
Other nominees included Mykhailo Tkach from "Ukrainska Pravda" and Olha Rudenko from The Kyiv Independent.
Nominees were evaluated based on the following criteria:
- commitment to the principles of independent journalism;
- innovation;
- significant contribution to the media development;
- materials that help address societal issues.
The Georgiy Gongadze Award is one of the most prestigious accolades for journalists in Ukraine, established in 2019 with the support of the Gongadze family.
It is noteworthy that in 2024, the award went to Tetiana Troshchynska, head of the strategic analysis department at "Suspilne".
Previous winners include Vakhtang Kipiani, Pavlo Kazarіn, Myroslava Barchuk, Mytislav Chernov, and others.
In 2022, a special posthumous award was given to documentarian and photojournalist Max Levin.
