Novaya Gazeta to Close After Years of Pressure

Novaya Gazeta, a prominent Russian newspaper known for investigating government wrongdoing, announced on October 30 that it would end operations on November 9. In a video, editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov said Russian authorities and security services had forced the newsroom to stop working.

The paper said it had been evicted from its Moscow premises and that the system it used to accept donations from readers had been shut down. Its website has been blocked in Russia, and authorities revoked its media license. The newsroom said it would publish one final issue before closing.

Founded in 1993 with support from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Novaya Gazeta covered corruption and human rights abuses. Six of its journalists were murdered, including Anna Politkovskaya, who was killed in 2006 after reporting on the war in Chechnya. Dmitry Muratov, the paper’s former editor, shared the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize with Philippine journalist Maria Ressa in recognition of their work to protect free expression.

The newspaper suspended its print edition in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and warnings from the media regulator. Muratov was later designated a “foreign agent,” and the outlet faced fines and other restrictions. Some staff who left Russia established Novaya Gazeta Europe, which continues to publish outside the country but is blocked inside Russia.

Novaya Gazeta said it would share more details about its plans soon. The closure leaves no major independent newspaper operating inside Russia.

Russia’s Independent Press Loses a Leading Voice

The closure of Novaya Gazeta is a stark measure of how far Russia’s crackdown on independent journalism has gone. The newspaper announced on October 30 that it would shut down on November 9, after one final issue, saying state authorities and security services had left its staff unable to continue.

The paper said it had been evicted from its Moscow office and lost the donation system that provided reader support. Its website is blocked in Russia, and its media license was revoked. Those restrictions came after years of pressure, including fines and the designation of former editor Dmitry Muratov as a “foreign agent.”

Founded in 1993 with support from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Novaya Gazeta investigated corruption and human rights abuses. Six of its journalists were murdered, including Anna Politkovskaya, who reported on the war in Chechnya and was killed in 2006. Muratov shared the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize with Philippine journalist Maria Ressa in recognition of their work to uphold free speech.

The newspaper halted its print edition in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and warnings from the media regulator. Some journalists who left Russia formed Novaya Gazeta Europe, which continues publishing abroad but is blocked inside the country. Its closure underscores the consequences of a system that has steadily restricted independent reporting and public access to it.

Novaya Gazeta’s Closure Shows the Stakes of Media Regulation

Novaya Gazeta’s shutdown is another sign of how the Russian state has narrowed the space for independent reporting. The newspaper said on October 30 that it would publish one last issue before closing on November 9, after authorities and security services made continued operations impossible.

The outlet said it had been evicted from its Moscow office and lost the donation platform through which readers supported it. Its website has been blocked inside Russia, and its media license was revoked. Those actions followed years of penalties and restrictions, including the “foreign agent” designation applied to former editor Dmitry Muratov.

Founded in 1993 with backing from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the paper built its reputation on investigations into corruption and human rights abuses. Six of its journalists were murdered, among them Anna Politkovskaya, killed in 2006 after covering the war in Chechnya. Muratov shared the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize with Philippine journalist Maria Ressa for efforts to protect freedom of expression.

Novaya Gazeta suspended its print edition in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine and the media regulator issued warnings. Some staff who went abroad launched Novaya Gazeta Europe, which remains active outside Russia but cannot be accessed there. The closure leaves no major independent newspaper operating inside the country and raises a serious question about whether state restrictions can be reconciled with a functioning public sphere.