(ANSA) - TRIESTE - The Central European Initiative (Cei) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (Seemo), in special partnership with the Media Program South East Europe of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (Kas), have announced the winners of the Cei Seemo Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism 2016: Lindita Cela in the section "Professional Journalists" and Artsiom Harbatsevich in the section "Young Professional Journalists".

Lindita Cela, an investigative journalist at the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) in Albania, has been awarded for her overall professional achievements and hard-hitting investigations exposing corruption scandals in the highest levels of power as well as revelations on Albania's organised crime networks, stretching from the Accursed Mountains to the streets of Brussels. Cela has been covering complex stories with a huge impact in Albanian society for over 15 years, showing impressive courage and determination.

Artsiom Harbatsevich, a young journalist from Minsk, Belarus, with experience working at Intex-press and Nasha Niva, has been awarded for his activity as investigative reporter producing works with great impact in his country. Among other things, he examined the pro-Russian paramilitary groups receiving support from Russian funds and exposed the channel through which Belarusian teenagers from a border region were taken to military training in Russia.

ela and Harbatsevich will officially receive the awards offered by the Cei (Eur 4,000 and 1,000, respectively) on the occasion of the X South East Europe Media Forum in Belgrade, Serbia, on 21-22 November 2016.

Finally, a Special Mention has been assigned to Iurie Sndu, director of Rise Moldova and member of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (Occrp). Thirty five nominations from 12 countries have been submitted this year, confirming the region-wide impact and relevance of the Award. (ANSA).