Incidents

The Russian woman is in the jury of the World Press Photo 2024 competition and will evaluate European works

The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers appealed to the competition directorate demanding to change the composition of the jury of the competition. Russian photographer Maria Helman took in the jury of the annual competition of specialists in the field of photojournalism and documentary World Press Photo 2024. However, the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPF) requires it to exclude it from the jury. This is stated in the statement of the UAPE.

In addition to Helman, the European team of Judges included a Stern Photopedicist Andreas Trupe from Germany, a photographer of the daily newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) Gilles Steinman from Switzerland, Deutsche Börsea Curator Mariama Atta (UK) ), whose first photobook was devoted to the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine. Since 2014, Taylor-Land has been documenting Russia's war against Ukraine.

The UAPF believes that the participation of Helman can affect the objectivity of decision -making when evaluating the work of participants. Moreover, for 10 years in a row, an unjust war of Russia against Ukraine has been going on, so the participation of a representative of the Russian Federation raises many ethical issues.

"The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers appeals to the competition directorate with a hard demand to change the composition of the jury and to exclude from its composition a representative of the Russian Federation. The UAF considers Helman's participation illogical and may affect the objectivity of decision -making when evaluating the work of participants, - the statement reads.

Helman herself opposes the war of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, the organization calls into question the relevance of such an appointment, because the competition will obviously be presented many photos Applications for the World Press Photo competition are already closed. Judges have to be evaluated, regional winners have to announce on April 3. Later the global jury will determine 24 regional winners.