Peter Greste Baltic Freedom of Speech Award
The Peter Greste Baltic Freedom of Speech Award was launched in 2017 to recognize organizations and individuals for their significant contributions to defending and enhancing freedom of speech in the Baltic states. The award was held annually for three years until the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted its continuation. Considering the current challenges facing democracy and the situation in the region, we revived this prestigious award.
Peter Greste is a Latvian-Australian academic, writer, and memoirist, with a distinguished career as a journalist and foreign correspondent. Greste has worked with prominent media outlets including Reuters, CNN, the BBC, and Al Jazeera English, reporting extensively from the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa.
In December 2013, Greste and two fellow Al Jazeera journalists were arrested in Egypt, accused of falsifying news and tarnishing the country’s international reputation. Convicted in 2014, he was sentenced to seven years in prison. Following significant international advocacy, including intervention by the Australian government, Greste was deported to Australia in February 2015.
Greste has since become a vocal advocate for press freedom and is recognized for his contributions to journalism and human rights.
Award winners 2025
November 7th, 2025 we celebrated the winners of the Greste Baltic Freedom of Speech Award 2025! Congratulations to this year’s laureates, recognized for their courage and dedication to defending free expression in the Baltic region and beyond.
Laureates 2025
Latvia: Vadims Bogdanovs – theatre actor and civic activist using social media to fight corruption and promote transparency in Daugavpils.
Lithuania: Šarūnas Černiauskas (Siena) & Andrius Tapinas (Laisvės TV) – for uncovering political corruption at the highest level.
Exile Community: Katya Arenina – Russian investigative journalist in exile, exposing corruption and human rights abuses.
Nominees 2025
Latvia: Filips Lastovskis (Delfi), Toms Ostrovskis (TVNET Grupa), Vadims Bogdanovs (Daugavpils Theatre).
Lithuania: Šarūnas Černiauskas & Andrius Tapinas (Siena), Tomas Janonis (
Delfi.lt), Inga Janiulytė-Temporin & Rūta Dambravaitė (LRT).
Community: Dmitrijs Novikovs (Current Time, RFE/RL), Katya Arenina (Proekt Media), Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty.
The jury consists of journalists and representatives of the human rights organisations from the Baltic States and Peter Greste himself as the head of the jury.
Edgars Spuravs
Anastasija Tetarenko-Supe
Zane Vāgnere
Anda Rožukalne
Ragne Kõuts-Klemm
Džina Donauskaité
Award winners 2025
Stockholm School of Economics in Riga is announcing a call for proposals of the nominees for the upcoming Peter Greste Baltic Freedom of Speech Award. The Award ceremony will take place in Riga, November 6, 2025.
Media outlets, organisations and individuals can suggest the nominees for the award through the online application. The nominees should have displayed a substantial contribution either towards the protection of Freedom of Speech or its enhancement in one of the Baltic States. Total four nominees will be selected – one from each of the Baltic States and an additional nominee within the exile community.
The jury consists of journalists and representatives of the human rights organisations from the Baltic States and Peter Greste himself as the head of the jury.
Edgars Spuravs
Anastasija Tetarenko-Supe
Zane Vāgnere
Anda Rožukalne
Ragne Kõuts-Klemm
Džina Donauskaité
Award winners 2020
For ensuring that freedom of speech is not a privilege of the strongest and loudest but an absolute
necessity for all groups of society, the Greste Baltic Freedom of Speech Award in Latvia was awarded to
Kaspars Zālītis – an LGBT rights activist and leader of the Dzīvesbiedri (Spouses) movement.
For journalists insisting on the right to cover court proceedings closely related to organised crime, the
Greste Baltic Freedom of Speech Award in Estonia was awarded to Katariina Krjutshkova and Koit
Brinkman of business daily Äripäev.
For coverage of the lives of the less privileged groups in society, the Greste Baltic Freedom of Speech
Award in Lithuania was given to Elena Reimeryte for her series of reports shown on public broadcaster
internet portal LRT.lt. Her reporting on homosexual fathers in the United Kingdom spurred discussion,
but also a sharp reaction from the critics in the society.
Award Winners 2018
For becoming the strongest source of in-depth journalism in the Baltics, producing courageous and innovative advances in journalism that protect the freedom of expression, The Greste Baltic Freedom of Speech Award in Latvia was presented to the Baltic Investigative journalism organization Re:Baltica.
For her consistent efforts in producing powerful material on difficult and unpopular issues on the Estonian healthcare system, The Greste Baltic Freedom of Speech Award in Estonia was presented to journalist Kadri Ibrus, of the Eesti Päevaleht newspaper.
For the collective effort of journalists fighting restrictions on access to information imposed by the Lithuanian government, The Greste Baltic Freedom of Speech Award in Lithuania was presented to the Lithuanian journalist community.
Award Winners 2017
For their investigative reporting on a high level politician and a corruption scheme The Greste Baltic Freedom of Speech Award in Lithuania was presented to Dovydas Pancerovas and Šarūnas Černiauskas, the investigative journalist team from 15min online media outlet.
For her investigations and reporting on high level political corruption and oligarchs in magazine IR, Indra Sprance was awarded The Greste Baltic Freedom of Speech Award in Latvia.
In addition to public recognition and gratitude, the winners of the Greste Freedom of Speech Award received a symbolic monetary gift of 500 euros.
The Award was organised with the generous support of the Anne-Marie and Gustaf Ander Foundation, the Australian Embassy in Sweden, the Embassy of Sweden in Latvia, the Embassy of Sweden in Estonia, the Embassy of Finland in Latvia, the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia, UNESCO, and the University of Queensland, The French Institute and the French Embassy in Latvia.
For their investigative reporting on a high level politician and a corruption scheme The Greste Baltic Freedom of Speech Award in Lithuania was presented to Dovydas Pancerovas and Šarūnas Černiauskas, the investigative journalist team from 15min online media outlet.
For her investigations and reporting on high level political corruption and oligarchs in magazine IR, Indra Sprance was awarded The Greste Baltic Freedom of Speech Award in Latvia.