The historic outlet halted operations after authorities disabled its reader-funded donation system and issued an eviction order, making continued publishing impossible. For thirty years, the publication covered human rights abuses and corruption despite extreme risks, including the killings of six connected journalists such as Anna Politkovskaya. State pressure surged following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, resulting in revoked licenses, blocked websites, and foreign agent designations. Recent escalations directly precipitated the closure, including office raids, the arrest of an investigative reporter, and the interrogation of its editor-in-chief.
Key points
Independent investigative journalism in Russia faces systemic dismantling through coordin…: Independent investigative journalism in Russia faces systemic dismantling through coordinated state actions and new dissent laws.
Authorities employed administrative, legal, and physical tactics, including editorial off…: Authorities employed administrative, legal, and physical tactics, including editorial office raids and reporter arrests, to halt reporting.
The elimination of reader-funded support models has effectively ended operations for long…: The elimination of reader-funded support models has effectively ended operations for long-standing independent news organizations in the country.
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- Published
For the last three decades, Novaya Gazeta has been one of the most high-profile independent news outlets in Russia.
Now it's shutting down - and it has accused the Russian authorities of the "murder" of a newspaper.
"They've killed us," reads a statement on the Novaya Gazeta website.
"The newspaper is no more. The Russian authorities and Russian special services have forced the paper to stop its work."
Novaya Gazeta has received an eviction order. Crucially, at the same time, the system that had allowed the paper to receive donations from readers was disabled.
That leaves no way to fund the publication.
Novaya Gazeta had developed a reputation for fearless investigative reporting on subjects such as corruption, human rights violations and abuse of power by officials and bureaucrats.
Dangerous topics in Russia.
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