WAN-Ifra has named Russian newspaper editor Dmitry Muratov as this year's recipient of its Golden Pen of Freedom award.

Muratov, who is editor-in-chief of the independent Novaya Gazeta was honoured during the opening ceremony of the World News Media Congress and World Editors Forum in Cartagena, Colombia.

The award honours his leadership and "outstanding perseverance in safeguarding Novaya Gazeta's independent editorial line, as well as the great sacrifices made by its staff, over the paper's many years of service in the cause of press freedom".

In a pre-recorded video address, he expressed appreciation for the award, "coming as it does ten years after your Moscow conference where Mr Gorbachev announced he would assist the development of our newspaper".

He says only five per cent of the country's population understand the freedom of media as a prime core value, while about 80 per cent believe the main problem in Russia is poverty. "Very few associate the two," he says. "Without freedom of speech, there is no way out of poverty. Freedom means that there is control over corruption and the state, which means that it impedes poverty. I believe your award will help us to further follow this way."

Muratov (pictured) was unable to travel to collect his award due to ongoing recovery from a recent illness.

Accepting the Golden Pen of Freedom on his behalf, Novaya Gazeta deputy editor Sergei Sokolov said in the last 16 years, Russia had been sliding, "corrupted and oligarchic but still a democratic society, into a darkness of rigid autocracy, which has surely affected the freedom of speech and media".

"Journalists are constantly attacked and the reason is the system of impunity that has developed - businessmen, corrupt law enforcement officers and officials know that if they order the death of a journalist, they will get away with it.

"Independent journalists are living this way in Russia now, but I can only be proud of the fact that I am working with them and am honoured to be a friend to them."

World Editors Forum president Marcelo Rech, making the award in front of an audience of more than 700 publishers, editors and other senior newspaper executives from around the world, said Novaya Gazeta continued to wield considerable influence with its "uniquely uncompromising" editorial line.

Muratov and 50 colleagues founded the paper in 1993 with the goal of creating "an honest, independent, and rich" publication that would influence national policy. Former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev donated part of his 1990 Nobel Peace Prize award to pay for the early expenses, and remains a shareholder.

Six of its journalists have been killed in retaliation for their work or have died under suspicious circumstances, and many of its staff receive regular threats. Violent attacks have steadily increased, and 56 journalists have been reported killed in Russia since 1992, with impunity for the killers in these cases standing at nearly 90 per cent.

"Despite the challenges, despite the worsening situation for the independent press and the unimaginable pressures facing the paper at every turn, thankfully Novaya Gazeta remains with us," said Rech. "Today, the global media industry stands in recognition of its crucial work."