By Natalia Sedletzka
Natalie Sedletzka is a member of YanukovychLeaks team, an investigative reporter (Radio Liberty) and author of the “Schemes” TV-program.

We are happy to feel that we are not alone in our fight for a better future. Thank you for supporting independent journalism and the Ukrainian civil society,that is hoping to live under European values.

Ukrainian journalists sadly joke, saying that they are grateful to ex-president Viktor Yanukovych. They learned to unite for a common goal under his regime. Under Yanukovych there was complete censorship in the country, but journalists united into the “Stop Censorship” movement. Every year on the Day of Journalists, Stop Censorship members would come to his residence near Kiev – called Mezhihirya. We were met by riot police and high fences.We could only guess what was inside.

At that time, investigative journalists have proved that this territory, the size of Monaco, has been illegally taken out of public ownership. Only a very corrupt leaders are able to create such palaces.
We protested, conducted investigations where possible, published revelations that would make the Ukrainian citizens see how criminal the regime is, that is leading our beloved country. But there were only small bits of freedom of speech left in Ukraine. We could only afford to speak the truth on the Internet and on small, persecuted cable channels. And it turns out, that Ukrainians do want to know the truth.

The protests in the country began because of Yanukovych’s refusal to lead the country towards Europe – but the protest turned into a revolution because the citizens knew the real state of affairs at the top and wanted change. By irony, revolutions in Ukraine occur in the winter. Three cold months on the street, side by side with our fellow countrymen.

It is difficult to express in words the emotions we felt, when Yanukovych fled and we were able to access Mezhyhirya. Parents would take their children to see it. When scuba divers and activists found documents in the lake in his former residence, without saying a word investigative journalists from various publications came to do their job. Before that, for a few years, we had to fish for small pieces of information, which is now fully available. It was a real treasure find for investigative journalists. Company names, checks, payment orders, numerous bribe confirmations. And all of this was very, very wet! 🙂

Saving the documents became our top priority. For 7 days and 7 nights we, a group of 12 investigatiors with many volunteers, lived in Mezhygirya almost without any sleep and all we did was dry and scan over and over. The result, as we know, was spread around the world by global mass media, so that everyone would know how corrupt Yanukovych. We created a website were all of the recovered information is published, in addition to over 20 investigative journalism reports. Most importantly, this story, is, probably, a vital lesson for any dishonest politician – it doesn’t matter how high your fence is, because sooner or later all secrets will unfold.

It would be really great if we could continue fighting corruption and start building a new strong and prosperous European nation. Instead, we are engaged in war, and every day someone dies in battles in the East of Ukraine.

We are very thankful to you for all the support and understanding of our struggle for the future of our country. For this award. Thank you!