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Integrity award to investigative journalists

By Brigitte Alfter

BRUSSELS - 20/2/2009 - Two investigative journalists have been awarded the Integrity Award by Transparency International. David Leigh from the Guardian in London and Roman Shleynov from Novaya Gazeta in Moscow are praised for their investigative reporting.

David Leigh's "untiring pursuit of the truth has also helped journalists in other countries to report on accusations involving BAES and their own governments,"write Transparency International in their praise for the British journalist, who for years has conducted investigations into alleged bribery by British Aerospace Systems (BAES) in relation to the UK-Saudi Al Yamamah arms deal.

His most recent work was about tax evasion conducted in team of journalists at the Guardian. Over two weeks, they examined tax-avoidance schemes, analysed secretive tax strategies of major companies asking the simple question: Are they paying their fair share?

Roman Shleynov from Novaya Gazeta focuses almost exclusively on exposing the corrupt bonds between business and politics, according to Transparency International. He receives the award for his "independent reporting and investigative expertise".

Both Shleynov and Leigh are the investigative editors at their newspapers.