Georgian photojournalists and documentary photographers called the victory of TASS Mikhail Tereshchenko in the World Press Photo contest with a series of photos about protests in Tbilisi an insult, UNN reports with reference to Novosti Georgia.
Details
We are deeply outraged and shocked by the decision of World Press Photo to award the 2025 prize to a representative of the Russian state propaganda structure TASS for a photo report on Georgian protests - demonstrations directly against Russian influence and occupation of Georgia. Awarding a photographer representing the Kremlin narrative for covering anti-Russian protests is not only a blatant paradox, but also a direct insult to everyone who risks their lives, resisting Russian interference in Georgia's sovereignty and future.
The authors of the appeal add that TASS "distorts the truth about the war in Ukraine," just as it did during Russia's war against Georgia in 2008. Tereshchenko himself, they continue, openly supported Russian aggression in Ukraine, calling the invasion "liberation."
By awarding a prize to a photo report made by a TASS employee, World Press Photo legitimizes an agency known for spreading disinformation. This decision undermines independent media, reinforces propaganda, and allows false narratives to gain widespread recognition.
Additionally
On March 27, as reported by the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, the international organization World Press Photo announced 42 regional winners of the annual documentary photography contest.
Among the winners were also representatives of Russia and Belarus, as well as two German photographers whose work concerns the topic of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
One of the recognized shots was a portrait of a Ukrainian child who suffered severe injuries as a result of the war.
Another awarded shot shows a wounded occupier from the "DPR" in a field hospital near Bakhmut.
Such a choice of the jury caused criticism, in particular, from last year's World Press Photo winner, Ukrainian photographer Yulia Kochetova.
Obviously, I am surprised to see so much attention to the narrative of the "Russian soul" among this year's regional winners. I cannot imagine how Georgian photographers feel about their protests against Russian influence being shown through the images of a photographer from a Russian state agency. It is a personal responsibility - how this war will be told years from now. It is important to continue to testify and document.