Saba Tsitsikashvili was nominated for the JOURNALISM AWARD: recognizing investigative journalism of dogged determination across a range of media including print, online, radio and television, taking into consideration impact, originality and revelation.

Saba Tsitsikashvili is a regional coordinator for the Human Rights Centre in Shida Kartli. Saba writes for the regional newspaper – Kartlis Khma (the Voice of Kartli) and the Human Rights Centre’s on-line newspaper www.humanrights.ge. Main pressure and censorship was (and still is) coming on Saba from the local government as he reported on human rights violations during the August war in 2008 and aftermaths. He writes about the situation of IDPs, discloses corruption cases and conducts journalistic investigations on the expenditure of international aid as well as the cases of deprivation of life, political prisoners, etc.  

The aim of the awards is to recognise

  • High quality work that defends and promotes freedom of expression.
  • Work that was created or took place during 2009 and reflects current and salient issues.
  • Work that represents global spread and gender balance.

The nominations must demonstrate:

  • Original perspectives of freedom of expression.
  • Depth of purpose, impact and courage and possibly be carried out in hostile environments or contexts.
  • Not already recognised by other awards in the UK, so providing real added value to new work.

In addition to the above mentioned category the Index invited to submit nominations for the following categories: NEW MEDIA AWARD: Recognising innovation and original use of new technology to circumvent censorship, fostering debate, argument or dissent; LAW AND CAMPAIGN AWARD: Recognising lawyers or campaigners who have fought repression, or have struggled to challenge political climates and perceptions. Special attention is given to people using or establishing legal precedents to fight injustice.

Index on Censorship is the UK’s leading organisation dedicated to the promotion of free expression worldwide. With its global profile, its website provides up-to-the-minute news and information on free expression from around the world. Index on Censorship was founded as a magazine in 1972, when editor Michael Scammell and a group of writers, journalists and artists, led by the British poet Stephen Spender took to the page in defence of the basic human right of freedom of expression for writers in the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries. Since then the magazine has also sought to shed light on other challenges facing free expression, including religious extremism, the rise of nationalism, and Internet censorship.

In March 2010, Index on Censorship will hold the 10th Annual Freedom of Expression Awards.