I felt honoured to know Jakub Parusinski.
We studied at the same MBA school, INSEAD, and worked at the same company, McKinsey. Quite some years apart but still the same path.
Jakib then moved to a nobler cause, I have to say. He is one of the founders of The Kyev Independent, an English-language Ukrainian online newspaper that was launched a few months before the Russian invasion. It is a major promoter of a free independent press in Ukraine. It has over 2 million Twitter followers.
The Kyiv Independent has been one of my major sources of information on the war in Ukraine.
Yesterday The Kyiv Independent won the most prestigious journalism prize in Europe – The European Press Prize.
Ukraine has been a beacon of the fight for freedom for Europe. Now, The Kyiv Independent is showing us what a Free Independent Press should look like.
I share their post announcing the prize. It is a great example of independent journalism. I quote:
“Whether to publish this story was a difficult decision to make. Many believe press should not write about contentious topics like these during war, as it can undermine the West’s trust in Ukraine, or Ukrainians’ trust in their army and government.
But journalists serve the public interest. The public deserves to know the uncensored truth.
We believe that shedding light on the alleged theft in the military doesn’t hurt Ukraine, stealing does.
We believe that exposing misconduct in the military or government helps Ukraine, not hurts it.”
A subscription would be a great support for this noble cause.