ECAD-representative Fabio Bernabei, a committed and outspoken voice against drugs, has been awarded the "Heart And Speech Against Drugs” prize in memory of murdered Irish jorunalist Veronica Guerrin for his investigative journalism. The award was given by the mayor of Blagoevgrad - Dr. Atanas Kambitov and the ambassador of Ireland in Bulgaria – H.E. John Biggar. 

ECAD congratulates Fabio for the recognition of his work and is proud to have him on board as our Italian representative.
 



Awards in the contest for journalists "Heart And SpeechAgainst Drugs” in memory of Veronica Guerrin, year 2014

Seventh Ceremony of journalists in the contest "Heart and speech against drugs" in memory of the Irish journalist Veronica Guerrin, murdered by a drug dealer, took place on 29/10/2014 in Blagoevgrad - Bulgaria. The event was organized by the Municipality of Blagoevgrad by idea of the Municipal Council on Drug Addiction, Blagoevgrad and supported by the Embassy of Ireland in Bulgaria. Awards was handed by the mayor of Blagoevgrad - Dr. Atanas Kambitov and the ambassador of Ireland in Bulgaria – H.E. John Biggar. The guests were: the Bishopof Blagoevgrad region - Seraphim, the Governor of Blagoevgrad - Mr. Dimitar Dimitrov, the Vice - Rector of South- West University "Neofit Rilski" - Prof. Traian Popkochev, Fabio Bernabei - Italian journalist and representative of the NGO "European Cities Against Drugs", Mr. Radoslav Taskov - Chairman of the Municipal Council in Blagoevgrad, Mr. Rumen Boyadzhiev - Executive Director of the International Association Against Drug Trafficing And Drug Abuse.

The ceremony began with a performance of the folk group "Banski Starcheta" managed by Atanas Yanchovichin and ensemble "Pirin". Students from the South- West University managed by Ass. Assist. Mariana Shehova - Kanelova recreated an extremely interestingpart of interactive lawsuit in the court in memory of Veronica Guerrin.Everything was followed by a minute of silence in memory of journalists who died defending socially significant causes.

In his greeting the mayor of Blagoevgrad - Dr. Atanas Kambitov congratulated all investigative journalists in Bulgaria. He stressed: "We serve the people of the"dark side " who have failed to beat us, because a weapon can defeat the word, because it is more powerful than them. When we talk about investigative journalists, those heroes of today's reality, you may need to ask an important question, but what is done for the cause each one of us. "Finally Dr. Kambitov finished: "I know and I am sure that each of us can make life fairer and better."

Messages to journalists and guests present remarks by the Head of the Municipal Council on Drug Addiction - Dr. Temenujka Lyubenova, the Chairman of the Municipal Council of Blagoevgrad - Mr. Radoslav Taskov , the Bishop of Blagoevgrad region - Seraphim and the Vice-Rector of South – West University "Neofit Rilski " Prof. Trajan Popkochev.

The Ambassador - John Biggar received a gift - a picture painted by Nina Ilieva.

The winners were separated in three sections - "Electronic Medias", "Printed Editions" and "Documentary cinema", received an honorary diploma, medal and souvenirs made by the children of Studio of Ceramics II from school "Dimitar Blagoev" - Blagoevgrad.

All nominees received an honorary diploma.

Here are the winners and the nominees in the three categories:

ELECTRONIC MEDIA:

Grand Prize - Plaque and Certificate received:

1. Fabio Bernabei - Director of the journal "Osservatorio Droga", for investigative journalism on issues related to drugs, drug dealing and drug use.

The other nominees in this section:

1. TV 7 - For a systematic and with active citizen position notifying the problems about spreading and use of drugs in Bulgaria, in addition to save the rising generation and supporting the activities of the Municipal Council On Drug Addictionin Blagoevgrad.

2.The TV production"Investigation" - New TV - for the TV production " Investigation "revealind th new schemes for distribution of drugs."

PRINTED EDITIONS:

Grand Prize - Plaque and Certificate received:

1. Svetlana Vassileva - newspaper "Trud" - nomination of 45 students from the “ South - West University" one of the most powerful and iconic journalistic investigations for corruption schemes. It reveals a huge mafia structure in which individuals are bound state. After publication the police launched an investigation that led to revelations of huge losses to the state and dozens of redundancies. Unfortunately, the work is not yet completed and no convictions for 26 people accused.

The other nominees in this section:

1. Antonia Kyumyurdzhieva - newspaper "Standard" to "The Nightmare of the Policeman” headed an anti - mafia " - 05/10/2013 d .;

2. Eli Koumanova – newspaper "Standard" for "Madame Vesa flyed, desperate of the cancer '- 02/10/2013 d .;

3. The weekly "Monitor" - for the article "Boevsky and Orlin Alexiev in general coca channel" - 26/02/2014 d .;

4. Boyan Dimitrov – newspaper "Monitor" for the article "Excellent students sell drugs for coins" - 23/09/2014 d .;

5. Iveta Nikolova - newspaper "Trud", for the article "A Narco granny condemned a grandfather rogue" - 25/09/2014 d .;

6. Nicholas Kalamov - newspaper "Trud", for the article "Narcoboss, back at home in South Africa, with secret, which scares politicians" - 09/25/2014 d .;

7. Christina Teodosieva - newspaper "168 hours" for the article "Watch 168 Hours buying drugs" from 23/05/2013;

8. Krassi Terzieva - newspaper "City", city Gotse Delchev, publications proving crimes, related to the use and distribution of drugs, promote fair coverage of these issues, and to promote the activities of drug prevention . The nomination of students club "Towards Europe free from tobacco smoke, alcohol and drugs. The children from Ablanitsa with gratitude to Veronica Gerrin .” from school “ Paisiy Hlendarski" in the village Ablanitsa , Hadjidimovo.

DOCUMENTARY CINEMA:

Grand Prize - a plaque and a certificate obtained:

1. Lubomir Ognianov - TV7 - Investigative Journalistic distributionand drug use – TV production "Heat in a deal for amphetamines" and the TV production "The masks are falling.Everything about the attack against the team of the TV production "Heat" in the city of Pernik”.

The other nominees in this section:

1. Ivan Georgiev - BTV – the documentary movie "Macedonia - the lastproject of the Comintern", in connection with the patriotic education as the basis of the prevention of drug addiction.

After lunch on 29/10/2014, in the courtroom of the District Court in Blagoevgrad students of specialty "Social Education" from the South – West University, presented throughout the interactive lawsuit in the court, in which “Veronica Guerrin” was a witness, and the “defendant” received 10 years prison for drug trafficking, illegal arms possession and trafficking. Guests were able to hear the accusation of the "prosecution" to follow the questioning of the "witnesses", "defendant" and "victims". This is an innovative practice that is the result of cooperation between the Municipal Council on Drug Addiction – Blagoevgrad, As. Assist. Mariana Shehova - Kanelova and her students from the South-West University in Blagoevgrad and District Courtin Blagoevgrad.