On May 25 at “Sayat-Nova” III Pan-Armenian Song Festival in Yerevan “Vahagn” prizes were awarded for the first time. The organizers of the annual (since 2000) Armenian song festival are the well-known American philanthropists Vahagn and Hasmik Hovnanians. Yet, this time “Hasmik and Vahagn Hovnanians” Benevolent Fund announced in autumn 2001 about the establishment of a new “Vahagn” annual prize. The prizes are awarded for the accomplishments of the last decade in the spheres of cinema, theater, fine arts, literature as well as for the best journalistic investigation of the past year.
The awardees in the nomination “for the best journalistic investigation” received monetary prizes ($1500 each). The winners were named to be:
Producer Harutyun Mansurian – for the TV films “In the Name of Republic of Armenia” and “Drug Addiction” of “Khndir” cycle produced by Internews Armenia;
Journalist Khachatur Dadamian – for the article “The Armenian Oil of Baku”, published in “Azg” daily;
The creative group of the “Investigation: Details” supplement of “Iravunk” newspaper.
