The authors of the best journalistic investigations of 2021 were announced and awarded by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and the Independent Press Association, on December 7, during the launch event of the “Black Book of Public Money Waste in Moldova,” edition 2021. This year the best investigations are about corrupt officials and about the irresponsibility of the authorities that brings major damage to citizens and state institutions.

ZdG journalist Victor Moșneag won second place in the category “Journalistic investigation of the year 2021 in the national media,” being awarded for the investigation series “Forest Thefts” (in four parts: 1, 2, 3, 4).

• INVESTIGATION: The Forest Thefts Part I

• INVESTIGATION: The Forest Thefts Part II. The Fight of a Forestry Dynasty with the System and Relations in Justice

• INVESTIGATION: Forest Thefts Part III – The Socialists’ Involvement and an Unambiguous Recording

• INVESTIGATION: The Forest Thefts Part IV. ZdG Explains How the Wood is Stolen.

The competition accepted well-documented journalistic investigations, in Romanian or Russian, conducted by journalists or groups of journalists from Moldova on their own or in partnership with colleagues from other countries, covering acts/schemes of corruption, conflicts of interest, influence peddling or other crimes and which were published on any type of media platform (newspaper, website, TV, radio, blog), between October 16, 2020 – October 20, 2021.

At this year’s competition, in the category “Journalistic investigation of the year 2021 in the national media” the first place went to the investigation The Judges of Shor, author: Iurie Sanduța, RISE Moldova. In second place was the series of investigations “Forest Thefts” (in four parts: 1, 2, 3, 4), signed by Victor Moșneag from Ziarul de Gardă, and in third place – the investigation ”Sănătate la Gunoi”, signed by Liuba Șevciuc and Felicia Creţu, the media project CU SENS.

In the category “Journalistic investigation of the year 2021 in the local/regional media” first place was not awarded. In second place was the investigation Water that harms health, signed by Andrei Bordian and Gheorghe Bencheci, the media project “Rezina în Obiectiv”. And the third prize was awarded to the authors of two investigations: Children of the prosecutor with apartments in Iași by Nicolae Coșeru, the Nordnews.md portal and the kidnapping case: The only case in which a collaborator of the illegal structures in Tiraspol was convicted, signed by Irina Tabaranu, Zonadesecuritate.md portal.

Each winner of the competition will be able to apply in 2022 for a grant from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, worth 500 to 1000 Euros for an investigation into corruption/embezzlement of public money, including financial allocations from European assistance for Moldova. Also, the authors of the best investigations of 2021 were awarded certificates guaranteeing the payment of fees for the transmission of the right to translate and republish the winning investigations.

The contest “Journalistic Investigations of 2021” is in its fourth edition, the best journalistic investigations being awarded in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The purpose of the contest is to stimulate the merits of investigative journalists in Moldova in the fight against corruption and other crimes.