Forty journalists, bloggers and activists from Moldova and Ukraine will carry out together many cross-border investigations focused on corruption and organized crime. Joint teams were created in the Winter School for exchange of experience in cross-border investigative journalism MUTE @ Corruption, held in Odessa between 7 and December 12, 2015 by Freedom House, in partnership with the Moldovan Center for Investigative Journalism and Institute of Mass Information in Ukraine.

The participants learned best practices regarding coverage of issues related to cross-border corruption and organizing advocacy campaigns. Also, they discussed about data journalism, new methods and instruments for data collection, digital security measures, including encryption of e-mail and data, security of mobile devices.

Journalistic investigations carried out in Moldova and Ukraine and ways of covering them were presented under the sessions.

Attending the event were international trainers, experts in anti-corruption and investigative journalism. Governor of Odessa region Mikhail Saakashvili came with a welcome speech. "Corrupted leadership in Chisinau must leave and this will happen under the framework of democratic elections. After all, people will elect uncorrupted people", said Saakashvili at the opening of the Winter School.

Similarly, Mariusz Kowalczuk Assistant at European Union Delegation to Ukraine referred to corruption in the region and the measures taken by the authorities to this effect. "The European Union has delegations both in Kiev and Chisinau. The representatives of these delegations discuss with local officials and this is a reaction for us.  It may seem that Brussels is far and no one sees and knows anything, but actually things are different", said the European official in the meeting with participants in the Winter School MUTE @ Corruption.

One of the most famous sovietologists, David Satter, a former Moscow correspondent of the Financial Times of London, the only American journalist expelled from Russia after the Cold War, spoke in this event. He had a message for the citizens of Moldova and Ukraine "There are huge benefits after escaping corruption, but will is needed to do so. Everyone knows that it will not be easy, but citizens must have the spirit of national will and national purpose, because corruption destroys society". 

Winter School in Odessa aims to improve the skills and capacity of journalists, bloggers and civic activists in carrying out journalistic investigations, promote cross-border cooperation of journalists in Moldova and Ukraine, facilitate exchange of best practices and initiate investigations affecting both Moldova and Ukraine.

The 40 participants were selected through a competition announced by Freedom House. The budget of project for developing cross-border investigations is estimated at 40 thousand dollars.