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International Award for Master’s and PhD Research on Repression, Surveillance and Censorship in Contemporary Russia
OVD-Info, together with academic partners including CERCEC (EHESS-CNRS), Sciences Po-CERI and ISP (Université Paris-Nanterre-CNRS), announces the second cycle of the OVD-Info Prize—an international award recognising outstanding scholarly research on state repression, surveillance mechanisms, and censorship in contemporary Russia.
The Prize invites English or Russian-language submissions from Master’s students and PhD candidates. Research may come from disciplines such as sociology, political science, law, anthropology, information and communication, geography, or related fields, and can be based on qualitative and/or quantitative methods. The prize supports academic work that deepens understanding of repression, contributes to human rights knowledge, and encourages rigorous analysis grounded in original sources.
Who Can Enter
- Master’s students graduating in 2025 or 2026
- PhD candidates who defended in 2025 or plan to defend later
- Projects must address political repression, surveillance, censorship, or related mechanisms in contemporary Russia.
Application Process & Timeline
28 February—Deadline for Abstract Submission
Applicants must submit a 250-word abstract of their research project outlining the research question, context, methodology, and anticipated contribution.
March—Abstract Review
A selection committee will review all abstracts submitted by the deadline. Authors of shortlisted abstracts will be invited to submit a full research essay of up to 8,000–10,000 words (including appendices, sources, and references).
1 July—Essay Submission Deadline
Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of an essay presenting the research question, its originality in relation to existing literature, hypotheses, sources and methodology, and results.
15 September—Selection & Awards Announcement
Winners will be announced and prizes awarded following evaluation by the selection committee.
Prize & Recognition
- The OVD-Info Prize recognises outstanding academic research conducted by early-career scholars.
- Prizes will be awarded for the best Master’s and PhD research, with up to five awards offered.
- The prize amount is €2,000.
Award Committee
Daniil Beilinson (OVD-Info), Elena Bogdanova (Aleksanteri Institute), Françoise Daucé (CERCEC, EHESS), Gilles Favarel-Garrigues (Sciences Po-CERI), Anne Le Huérou (U. Paris-Nanterre, ISP), Agnieszka Kubal (University of Oxford), Lauren McCarthy (University of Massachusetts Amherst), Natalia Morozova (Memorial Human Rights Defense Centre), Peter H. Solomon, Jr (University of Toronto), Valerie Sperling (Clark University).
About the Prize
The OVD-Info Prize was established to encourage rigorous academic research on political repression, surveillance, censorship, and related practices in contemporary Russia. Bringing together the expertise of scholars and human rights researchers, the prize supports young scholars in the preparation of Master’s theses and PhD dissertations and highlights research that contributes to a deeper understanding of authoritarian governance and its social consequences.
The first cycle of the OVD-Info Prize (2024–2025) attracted strong international interest. In 2025, the competition received 53 applications from 44 institutions in 18 countries. Following the review process, 26 projects were shortlisted, and the jury selected 5 winners: 4 PhD projects and 1 Master’s project.
Now in its second cycle, the prize continues to recognise early-career researchers whose work is grounded in empirical analysis, original data, and critical engagement with sources, and whose findings help address pressing human rights and societal challenges.
How to Apply
Applicants should complete the online form and upload their abstract by 28 February. Shortlisted candidates will receive detailed instructions for submitting full essays. For questions, contact prize@ovdinfo.org.