New York (CNN) When Jessikka Aro found out that she was receiving one of the State Department's International Women of Courage Awards, the Helsinki-based journalist "was just so happy," she said.

Aro called the recognition "precious ... because my work has also cost me so much."

She has suffered harassment and cyberattacks since she started reporting on Russian propaganda activities in 2014. US embassy officials in Helsinki asked her last October if she would accept a nomination for the award.

She thought it was a done deal in January.

"But then it was taken away," she said on Sunday's "Reliable Sources" on CNN.

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