Press Release, 12.11.2026

Photo: The opening of the “Young People About Young People” competition on 10 November 2026 / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

On 10 November, the 4th International Yuri Shchekochikhin Competition “Young People About Young People” was launched. For the first time in the competition’s history, Yabloko is acting as a co-organiser. The main organiser is the Yuri Shchekochikhin Charitable Foundation. As before, the competition is open to young writers aged 18 to 35, but this time photographers can also take part, with a special category opened to them.

The launch of the competition was announced at a ceremony at Yabloko’s central office in Moscow.

The 4th International “Young People About Young People” Competition was launched at the Yabloko office on 10 November by party Chairman Nikolai Rybakov and Yuri Shchekochikhin’s widow, writer and journalist Nadezhda Azhgikhina. Dozens of guests gathered that evening to remember the legendary journalist and to watch “And the Ship Sails On”, a documentary about his life and work. They included Shchekochikhin’s friends, colleagues and students, as well as winners of previous competitions.

It should be noted that Yuri Shchekochikhin — a legend of Russian journalism, a politician and a member of the Yabloko faction in the State Duma (1995–2003) — died in July 2003. Within two weeks, an unknown illness had drained all his strength, swiftly and relentlessly. To this day, his friends, colleagues and family remain convinced that he was poisoned because of his investigative journalism.

Photo: Guests at the evening on 10 November 2026 / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

This is the first time the Shchekochikhin competition has been held with Yabloko directly involved as an organiser. That is why, opening the ceremonial evening on 10 November, party Chairman Nikolai Rybakov stressed that freedom, and especially freedom of speech and freedom of journalism, were valued as never before in 2026:

“Some will say: ‘What freedom of speech can there be now, what freedom of debate?’ But it is essential to seek it and to find it. I hope that the participants in the competition named after Yuri Shchekochikhin will be able to find their own way of expressing their thoughts, their feelings and their understanding of the mission of journalists. We believe that the time when journalists will be able to speak openly, and people will be able to read and watch their work, will come very soon.”

Nikolai Rybakov admitted that it was especially bitter to say these words the day after the closure of Novaya Gazeta, for which Yuri Shchekochikhin had written for many years. However, he immediately added that there was certainly hope. The writers and photographers taking part in the “Young People About Young People” competition might one day join the editorial staff of a new Novaya Gazeta, revived in Russia.

Photo: Nadezhda Azhgikhina / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Nadezhda Azhgikhina then took the floor. She spoke about the competition and about the screening of the film “And the Ship Sails On”, which was due to take place that evening.

This documentary by Yulia Mavrina is dedicated to Yuri Shchekochikhin. It should be noted that Nadezhda Azhgikhina wrote the script. The film consists of archive footage, interviews, and the recollections of politicians, journalists and Shchekochikhin’s students. It was first launched at Yabloko in March 2026.

“Yuri Shchekochikhin, an icon of Russian journalism, became legendary in his own lifetime,” Nadezhda Azhgikhina recalled. “We are holding the competition named after him for the fourth time. What makes it interesting, and what is special about it? Firstly, we accept both published and unpublished works. Someone may write a feature, an essay or an analytical piece specially for the competition. Secondly, this year we have broadened its scope and opened a category for the best photo report. This category will be headed by my great colleague Yuri Feklistov, a chronicler of everyday life. In addition, we have decided that, after selecting the best entries, we will award participants diplomas in memory of well-known journalists, including Lidia Grafova and Larisa Yudina.”

Find out more about the 4th International Yuri Shchekochikhin Competition “Young People About Young People”, its categories and how to apply on the competition’s dedicated page.

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

After the screening of “And the Ship Sails On”, everyone who wished to could discuss the film, ask the organisers questions, and talk about their experience of working with Yuri Shchekochikhin or of taking part in the competition named after him.