A journalist from the occupied Crimea won an international award

The winner of the International Prize of European Memory and Conscience 2025 is civilian journalist and human rights activist Iryna Danylovych for her struggle and independent journalism in the occupied Crimea.

This became known from the website of the European Memory and Conscience platform.

This award was given for her defense of human dignity, civic courage and independent journalism, which she was engaged in under Russian occupation.

<b>Marek Mutor</b>, President of the Platform, emphasized that the award is not just a recognition of her personal feat, but a call to protect all journalists persecuted for the truth: "Irina Danilovich reminds us that even in the darkest corners, one voice can shine the truth.

Danilovich is currently being held in a Russian women's colony in Zelenokumsk. The occupation court sentenced her to 6 years and 11 months on trumped-up charges of 'possession of an explosive device'. The journalist has repeatedly publicly reported torture, pressure and intimidation by FSB officers, which were used to extract testimony.

Past laureates include voices who fought for historical truth and freedom of democracy, such as Vladimir Kara-Murza, who received the award in 2024 while imprisoned in Russia for opposing the war in Ukraine. He is currently on the Interior Ministry's wanted list.

Iryna Danylovych was born near Feodosia and worked as a nurse in Koktebel, Crimea. During the Russian occupation , she began reporting on the rights of healthcare workers and filing complaints. Initially, it was these complaints about the system to independent media that made her a target. In 2022, Danylovych disappeared and the whole family did not know where she was for almost two weeks. Later, the woman was found in a detention center where she was forced to sign a confession while being tortured and denied access to food.

Currently, Danilovich is being held in detention in Zelenokumsk, Stavropol region.

Катерина Глушко