OCCRP Reporter Stevan Dojčinović was awarded today with Serbia’s top journalism prize – The Jug Grizelj  prize. It is given by the family foundation of Grizelj, an influential reporter who died at 65 in 1991. 

Stevan, an editor at OCCRP's Serbian partner, the Center for Investigative Journalism in Serbia (CINS), won for his series on the spread of organized crime and corruption in Serbia and the region. His articles, which ran in local and regional newspapers and magazines, included:

An account of how the Serbian government awarded several privatization deals to convicted cigarette-smuggler Anton Stanaj;

A project that traced the fortune of infamous fugitive drug kingpin Darko Saric;

The discovery that an influential advisor to Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić had long-term business relationships with Motnenegrin organized crime;

A detailed history of the criminal practices and political connections of Serbian businessman Rodoljub Radulovic, who was indicted in Serbia in December for cocaine smuggling.

And an investigation into the offshore companies and fraudulent business deals of Serbia's richest tycoon, Miroslav Miskovic, who was later arrested under suspicion of pocketing profits during state privatizations.

"He brought us a group of people who are known as successful entrepreneurs, high-ranking government officials and politicians, and finally, criminals," said Jug Grizeli board member Casimir Ćurgus at the awards ceremony today. "The big-time criminals who have long wanted lists, we knew about before, but the latter - successful businessmen and politicians, we knew only the half of it."

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