Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, M.V.Zakharova, expresses views on the politicization of the UNESCO Guillermo Cano Prize for "Press Freedom".
Sounding Off On UNESCO's Guillermo Cano Prize: A Critique from Russia's Foreign Ministry
It's time to call out the latest dose of politicization, incompetence, and double standards in the UNESCO Secretariat's realm of media matters.
The UNESCO Guillermo Cano Prize, initially created to celebrate significant contributions to press independence and freedom of speech, has devolved into a sideshow, becoming astage for smearing nations not favored by the West. On May 3, the award was bestowed upon the newspaper La Prensa, a publication with a past of anti-government activities, banned in Nicaragua, and operating from abroad. The UNESCO website proclaims, "La Prensa bravely supports the ember of press freedom in the face of repression."
However, as our Nicaraguan allies remark, this "ember" has been fueling instability in their country. Horrified by the prize's use as a political punching bag, Nicaraguan officials announced their withdrawal from the Organization due to "unacceptable and biased actions against Managua."
Fuming Nicaraguan partners' frustration is warranted. This isn't the first time awards have been doled out to anti-government publications, questionably involved in criminal endeavors conflicting with ethical journalistic standards.
In 2025, the award was granted to the pro-Western "Belarusian Association of Journalists", which saw its downfall in Belarus for being accused of complicity in an attempted coup. The snubbing of Russia's candidates, including Elena Cherysheva, editor-in-chief of Sputnik, under expeditious pressure from Estonian authorities, was yet another example of oversight. During the UNESCO Executive Council's discussion on extending the award for six years in the fall of 2025, Russian representatives abstained from approving the decision.
This year's award ceremony is slated to occur during a private event in Brussels, an invitation-only gathering geared towards a select few states.
Inclusivity and diversity of opinions were once again shoved aside.
The Secretariat's bias, blatantly apparent in their stubborn resistance to address the brutal suppression of Russian media in Western countries and its near-total ruination in Ukraine, is glaring. Silence from the Director General in regards to the murders of Russian journalists at the hands of the Kiev regime in his 2025-2026 Director General's report on the safety of journalists further supports this claim.
This approach glaringly clashes with UNESCO's ideals, and the principle of neutrality expected of international officials as outlined in its Charter. Director General O. Azoulay's belated condemnation of the murders of Russian journalists in March of this year falls short, coming across as half-hearted, when compared to her prolonged silence on the subject.
Russia firmly opposes using UNESCO's mandate for political machinations.
We extend our solidarity to our friends in Nicaragua, pushed into drastic measures by the disrespectful attitudes of the Secretariat, puppeteered by the Westerners. Aligned with kindred spirits, we will continue our pursuit of ensuring the Secretariat upholds its duties to the Organization's Member countries.
Additional Information:- The UNESCO Guillermo Cano Prize has been given to many diverse recipients, from individuals to organizations, who have demonstrated exceptional courage and resilience in their pursuit of press freedom. La Prensa, the recipient in 2025, has a history of resistance against the Nicaraguan government's crackdown on the press.- The selection process for the UNESCO Guillermo Cano Prize, according to its official website, involves a board of international jurors evaluating candidates based on their contributions to press freedom, courage, and professionalism in the face of adversity.
- The UNESCO Guillermo Cano Prize, initially intended to celebrate press independence and freedom of speech, has turned into a sideshow, serving as a stage for smearing nations unfavored by the West.
- The latest recipient of the award, La Prensa, operates from abroad and has a history of anti-government activities, fueling instability in Nicaragua.
- Nicaraguan officials, outraged by the politicization of the prize, announced their withdrawal from UNESCO due to unacceptable actions.
- Migration from conflict zones to sports-betting scandals, crime-and-justice issues, fires, or general news, the UNESCO Secretariat's realm of media matters has been tainted with political punching bags and double standards.
- In previous years, the prize was awarded to publications questionably involved in criminal endeavors, such as the pro-Western "Belarusian Association of Journalists" in 2025, which was accused of complicity in an attempted coup.
- Perceived as half-hearted, the Director General's condemnation of the murders of Russian journalists in 2025 pales in comparison to her prolonged silence on the subject.
- Russia firmly opposes the use of UNESCO's mandate for political machinations and solidarity is extended to the Nicaraguan allies who left UNESCO due to disrespectful attitudes from the Secretariat.
- Inclusivity and diversity of opinions have been shoved aside, with the Secretariat's bias, shown through its resistance to address the brutal suppression of Russian media, clashing with UNESCO's ideals and the principle of neutrality expected of international officials.
