Ukrainian Reporter Wins Investigative Journalism Daniel Pearl Award

KYIV, Ukraine, October 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

A Ukrainian journalist Vlad Lavrov won Daniel Pearl Award for his participation in the transnational investigative project Offshore Crime, Inc. Lavrov was a part of the group of journalists from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Ukraine. The six month investigative research uncovered organized criminal groups which used offshore tax havens to launder money, hide assets, and evade taxes.

Ukrainian reporter Vlad Lavrov was one of the reporters who investigated offshore tax heavens including the U.S. state of Delaware, the Cayman Islands, Seychelles, New Zealand, Romania and Ukraine. In order to uncover the underlying illegal activity the journalists posed as businessmen seeking services. In meetings and online consultations the reporters received detailed advice on avoiding paying taxes through offshore mechanisms.

A Romanian journalist Paul Cristian Radu coordinated the winning team of reporters - Mihai Munteanu (Romania), Beth Kampschror (United States), Stanimir Vaglenov (Bulgaria), Vlad Lavrov (Ukraine), Tamas Bodoky (Hungary), and Stevan Dojcinovic (Serbia). Drew Sullivan (UK) and Rosemary Armao (United States) edited the project.

The Ukrainian journalist received his award at the Global Investigative Journalism Conference that took place in Kyiv on October 13-16, 2011. The conference is a major event in investigative journalism with the legendary Murdoch case investigator Nick Davies of The Guardian giving a speech at the event in Kyiv.

Other finalists of the 2011 competition included investigations on the Tamiflu drug scheme, human trafficking in Latin America, problems of the foreign employees at the American bases in Afghanistan and Iraq, crimes of the Peace Corps, and piracy. Overall, 70 investigations by journalists from 30 countries have been submitted for review.

The Daniel Pearl Award is a biannual prize that is given out by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. This award specifically aims to distinguish investigative reporters who cooperate across the borders of various countries. Daniel Pearl is an American journalist who worked with the Wall Street Journal before he was kidnapped and later killed by Al-Qaeda as he went to Pakistan with an investigative mission.