Lithuania’s first investigative journalism award presented to Černiauskas and Tapinas

The first Pamatai investigative journalism award has been presented to journalist Šarūnas Černiauskas and public figure Andrius Tapinas for their investigative series Sureikšminkim, LRT reports.

The €200,000 prize, established by the Lithuanian Investigative Journalism Charity and Support Fund, recognises outstanding work in investigative reporting that serves the public interest, democracy, and transparency. The fund aims to strengthen national institutions, combat corruption, and foster a culture of accountability.

This year’s laureates were selected by a committee comprising journalists Marina Walker Guevara, Bastian Obermayer, Birgitta Virnich, and Gina Donauskaitė; academic Auksė Balčytienė; anti-corruption expert Sergei Muravjov; strategist Agnė Paliokaitė; author Rutger Bregman; and ISM University rector Dalius Misiūnas. The Open Lithuania Foundation administered the selection process.

The Pamatai award, launched in 2026, will be granted annually for a single investigation or series addressing critical public issues. The prize money, drawn from a €4 million endowment fund, is supported by entrepreneurs including Justinas Baranovskis, Mantas Mikuckas, Tadas Burgaila, Rokas Medonis, Arnas Stuopelis, Tomas and Andrius Šlimai, as well as the Tesonet Foundation and Contrarian Ventures.