Transparency International (TI) is slated to present the 2008 Integrity Awards to investigative journalists from Russia and the UK.

Investigations editors David Leigh from the Guardian and Roman Shleynov from Novaya Gazeta will receive the annual award for their extraordinary contributions to the fight against corruption.

“The high standards of integrity and relentless pursuit of the truth displayed by David Leigh and Roman Shleynov, show that spotlighting facts is a powerful weapon against corruption. Their reporting demonstrates that investigative journalism is a route to public accountability,” said Sion Assidon, Chair of TI's Integrity Awards Committee.

David Leigh has done extensive research on the role of foreign bribery in gaining business, exposing UK's political corruption and corruption allegations in projects guaranteed by the UK's Export Credit Guarantees Department.

Leigh has carried out investigations into alleged bribery by British Aerospace Systems in relation to the UK-Saudi al-Yamamah arms deal. His findings have also helped other journalists to report on investigations involving BAE Systems and their own governments.

Roman Shleynov is known for exposing the corrupt network of connections between business and politics including a former Russian nuclear energy minister's embezzlement.

He has been summoned at least four times over the past nine years by Russia's Federal Security Service (the former KGB) for his investigations including the recent one he conducted into black market cigarettes making their way from Kaliningrad to Europe.

“Demonstrating how corruption undermines accountability and the rule of law -as Leigh and Shleynov have done- is indispensable to challenging the abuse of power for privilege and illicit gains,” said Assidon.

The 2008 Integrity Awards winners will be honored during a ceremony on Feb 17, 2009 in London.

Transparency International has awarded numerous individuals and organizations from Asia and Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

The TI Integrity Awards jury consists of eight anti-corruption activists, who confer with the TI Board of Directors for the awards.

TE/HGH