Maria Ressa (Philippines) and Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov (Russia) received the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for “their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace”. Maria Ressa uses freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country, the Philippines. Dmitry Muratov has for decades defended freedom of speech in Russia under increasingly challenging conditions.