An investigative report by Expressen's Mattias Carlsson, revealing how Vladimir Putin uses the Russian Red Cross for propaganda, has been nominated for a prestigious European journalism award. The 'Kremlin leaks' investigation exposed the Russian Red Cross's involvement in propaganda and military training of children, leading to significant reforms within the organization.
Investigative Report on Putin and Russian Red Cross Nominated for Prestigious European Award
Investigative Report on Putin and Russian Red Cross Nominated for Prestigious European Award
Expressen's investigative reporter Mattias Carlsson, along with a network of international journalists, uncovered how Vladimir Putin exploits the Russian Red Cross as a propaganda tool. The investigation, titled 'Kremlin leaks,' has now been nominated for a prestigious European award for cross-border investigative journalism.
"The revelation forced the Russian Red Cross to undertake extensive reforms," says Mattias Carlsson.
In the nomination, the award jury states that the investigation, published in Expressen and 16 other international news sites, provides a unique insight into how the Kremlin operates a propaganda system that tracks and monitors all Russian citizens from birth to death, while spying on their every move online using sophisticated IT systems.
The IJ4EU Impact award is presented by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, based in Leipzig, Germany, which works to promote press freedom and protect journalists in Europe.
The nominated investigation 'Kremlin leaks' is based on the analysis of unique material, thousands of leaked emails from high-ranking Kremlin officials. The award jury particularly highlights how the investigation revealed the Russian propaganda machinery's reach into unexpected institutions, such as the Russian Red Cross.
"Documents show its involvement in the 're-education' of children deported from occupied Ukraine and routine engagement in Russia's patriotic military camps where young children learn to handle rifles and train in close combat.
"Some of the Red Cross's key principles are impartiality, neutrality, and independence, yet the Russian Red Cross allowed itself to be used in the Kremlin's propaganda machinery and even participated in military training of children. The revelation led to crisis meetings within the international Red Cross, and the Russian Red Cross was forced to undertake extensive reforms," says Mattias Carlsson, a reporter in Expressen's investigative team.
The investigations into the Russian Red Cross were published last year, sparking significant debate and demands for the Russian Red Cross to be expelled from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
During a meeting in Geneva, the IFRC board decided to appoint a special monitoring group to review the Russian Red Cross.
The result was a long list of required actions, the first being that the Russian Red Cross must strengthen its efforts to protect children and their rights.
Additionally, the Russian Red Cross was urged to "review agreements with entities that may jeopardize their ability to adhere to the fundamental principles of their work to support affected people."
"Cross-border and inter-editorial collaboration creates the opportunity to conduct this type of complex investigation that would otherwise never have been done, so it feels especially rewarding that it has now been recognized," says Mattias Carlsson.
Ten investigations from across Europe are nominated for the IJ4EU Impact award, with the three winners to be announced at a ceremony in Athens at the end of September.
The 'Kremlin leaks' investigations have previously been double-nominated for the international Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism.