CEI SEEMO AWARD 2025

Chișinău, 17 November 2025

The 2025 edition of the CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism has reaffirmed the pivotal role of investigative reporting in revealing human rights violations, social discrimination, corruption, gender inequality, and environmental challenges.
Launched in 2008, the Award is one of the first initiatives in Central, South and Eastern Europe dedicated to recognising excellence in investigative journalism.
Over the years, its regional relevance and impact have steadily grown, a fact reflected this year in the remarkable number and quality of applications received, which have made the selection process especially competitive leading to the following results:

Award presentation in in Chișinău during the South East Europe Media Forum (SEEMF):

– Category “Professional journalists” (ex aequo): Bogdana Lazarova (Bulgarian National Television, Bulgaria), Yevheniia Motorevska (The Kyiv Independent, Ukraine)
– Category “Young Professional journalists” (ex aequo): Edoardo Anziano (IRPI Media, Italy), Daniel Kotecký (Deník Referendum, Czechia)

Bogdana Lazarova is honoured for her in-depth television investigations into crime, environmental protection, and public health. Conducted under pressure, including documented attacks on reporting teams, her work has clear public-interest value and has raised professional standards within national broadcasting.

Yevheniia Motorevska is recognised for her rigorous, evidence-based investigations into war crimes, torture, and other grave human rights violations committed in the context of Russia’s aggression. Her work integrates survivor testimonies, documentary evidence, and open-source intelligence (OSINT) and geolocation methods, contributing directly to accountability efforts and official indictments.

Edoardo Anziano is acknowledged for his cross-border investigations at the intersection of organised crime, financial secrecy, and authoritarian networks. His use of FOIA requests, OSINT, and financial analysis has produced tangible public-interest outcomes and contributed to major European investigative collaborations.

Daniel Kotecký is recognised for his data-driven investigations into the EU Modernisation Fund and the climate impact of major energy companies. His findings on fund allocation and conflicts of interest have strengthened transparency and informed policy discussions at the European level.

Award presentation in Podgorica on 17 December 2025:

– Category “Professional journalists” (ex aequo): Roman Anin (iStories / OCCRP, Moldova), Anuška Delić (Oštro, Slovenia)

Roman Anin is honoured for his cross-border investigations into corruption, sanctions evasion, and illicit financial networks. His reporting has had a measurable international impact, including the imposition of sanctions and asset freezes, and exemplifies professional courage and collaboration under legal and personal threats.

Anuška Delić is commended for her data-driven, cross-border investigations on disinformation, corruption, and democratic accountability. She is also recognised for her pioneering contributions to collaborative journalism and media literacy, and for her resilience under judicial pressure related to sensitive reporting.

The CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism, jointly promoted by the Central European Initiative (CEI) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), seeks to foster high-quality investigative journalism and to recognise journalists working under challenging conditions, often facing threats to media freedom and personal safety.

For more info:
Barbara Fabro (CEI) fabro@cei.int
Anna Schmidt (SEEMO) info@seemo.org