Journalists Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler, and Dmitry Muratov, editor-in-chief of Russia’s Novaya Gazeta, on 8 October were named the winners of the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.

Ressa is the first Filipino and only the 18th woman to win the prize. She in 2015 interviewed Rodrigo Duterte during the presidential election where he admitted murdering three people. Ever since he was elected, Rappler has always been critical about Duterte’s policies, especially on his war on drugs. 

She was in 2019 convicted for alleged online libel during Duterte’s regime, when all sorts of criticism directed to him and his allies were met with punishment. Her arrest was heavily criticised on a global scale as an act of repression towards the press' freedom of expression.

Dmitry Muratov was one of the founders and the editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, Russia’s one of the most outspoken, pro-democracy media. Muratov has published several articles that heavily criticised the Putin regime. The media also managed to shed some light on the anti-gay purges in Chechnya.

Muratov in 2015 stepped down from his position due to exhaustion, but returned in 2019. He said in his speech that he was not the rightful winner for the prize. Instead, he named six Novaya Gazeta journalists who were killed in connection with their work during his time at the media.

“It’s not mine. I’m not the right beneficiary, there are real ones. It’s just that the Nobel Peace Prize isn’t awarded posthumously, it’s awarded to living people. Obviously, they decided to award it to someone living, having in mind Yury Shchekochikhin, Igor Domnikov, Anna Politkovskaya, Anastasia Baburova, Stanislav Markelov, and Natalya Estemirova.”