Zaki Daryabi, an Afghan who is editor-in-chief of Etilaatroz newspaper, has won Transparency International’s Anti-Corruption 2020 Award.  

Over the past six years, the Etilaatroz newspaper has published over 40 investigative reports, some of which covered government reforms.  

“Kazakh Whistleblower Botakoz Kopbayeva & Zaki Daryabi and his newspaper Etilaat Roz, have been recognized with the Anti-Corruption Award 2020 in the virtual ceremony held at the #IACC2020,” tweeted Transparency International.  

Referring to the award, Daryabi said that it is a recognition of the capacity that exists in the field of journalism in Afghanistan. 

“In my view, the Transparency International's anti-Corruption Award gave us--as a nation and a country--an opportunity for the capacity of Afghanistan's investigative journalism to be recognized,” said Daryabi.  

Daryabi established Etilaatroz ten years ago.  

The Etilaatroz newspaper has Dari, Pashto and English versions.  

 “Code 91 (an emergency financial code) was one of our reports, the report showed that the Afghan government does not use this code in accordance with the provisions of the law, and the use of this code is based on nepotism,” said Ali Jawed Maliki, at Etilaatroz.  

The award comes as Afghanistan still ranks high on the list of corrupt countries.