The award, presented on May 31, 2004, at the World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum in Istanbul, recognises Sharipov’ss outstanding defence and promotion of press freedom in the face of constant physical danger, prison and censorship.

Sharipov has endured unspeakable hardships because he has refused to bow to pressure to drop his criticism of the government and to stop his human rights work, said the Board of the Paris-based WAN, meeting in New York City.

Sharipov, founder of the Union of Independent Journalists of Uzbekistan, was sentenced to five years in prison in August for engaging in homosexual acts and engaging in sexual relations with minors. The charges are believed to be a pretext to silence him.