The Novaya Gazeta newspaper has nominated Mikhail Khodorkovsky for the prestigious Russian ‘Golden Pen – 2013’ award for journalism.

According to the team at the newspaper, Mikhail Khodorkovsky wrote for the newspaper throughout 2012 – 2013, regularly producing some thought-provoking pieces, despite the fact that he had difficulty in communicating material from his prison colony in Segezha.

The Novaya Gazeta has filed its nomination to the Russian Union of Journalists, addressed to the chairman, Vsevolod Bogdanov.

The purpose of the annual award is to identify the journalists and media teams who have secured the greatest respect and recognition for their activities in 2013.

The nomination letter states:

The newspaper Novaya Gazeta is nominating its freelance author and columnist Mikhail Khodorkovsky for the Union of Journalists’ ‘Golden Pen’ award.  The nomination is in reference to a series of articles published by the Novaya Gazeta newspaper during the period 2012 – 2013:

• Modern-day social liberalism and economics – April 14, 2012 

• Nationalism and social liberalism – June 15, 2012 

• Khodorkovsky’s written responses to questions on his third lecture in the Novaya Gazeta – July 13, 2012 

• We were never friends – Mikhail Khodorkovsky on the passing of Boris Berezovsky – March 28, 2013 

• Mikhail Khodorkovsky on Alexei Navalny – July 18, 2013 

• Khodorkovsky’s letter to Bolotnaya Square defendants – September 11, 2013