Matsuka Oleksiy

Oleksiy MATSUKA is a Ukrainian journalist. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Novosti Donbassa, a Donbass news website. In 2013, he launched Donetskaya Pravda that focuses on investigating public officials. He has also reported on Donetsk for Hromadske.TV and for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Ukrainian Service. Since 2003, he has been the Head of Donetsk Institute of Information, which focuses on research of the actual developments in the Donbas region. He is also the co-founder of the network think-tank Kalmius Group, an informal association of Ukrainian analysts, united by the single aim to foster the restoration of state sovereignty in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Mr. Matsuka has received numerous threats due to his investigative work. In 2011, Mr. Matsuka's apartment was set on fire after he published a series of articles on the embezzlement of public funds and in April 2014, his car was set on fire after he wrote an article titled "Russia's deep ties to Donetsk's Kremlin collaborators." He is the recipient of several awards. The Reporters Without Borders included Mr. Matsuka in its list of 100 Information Heroes in April 2014. Later, the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression presented him with its International Press Freedom Award in December 2014. Mr. Matsuka was born on January 15th, 1983.