Politics1 min read

Russia ‘forces’ closure of investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The historic 30-year-old publication will shut down its servers on November 9 following intensified pressure from state authorities and a "foreign agent" designation. This shutdown comes directly after editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov was arrested, interrogated, and subjected to a home search on October 15 regarding a criminal case tied to colleague Oleg Roldugin. Russian authorities previously revoked the news organization's media license following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders condemned the Kremlin's persistent campaign, recalling that six of the newspaper's reporters and staff members have been murdered over the years.

Key points

  • Moscow's state authorities and intelligence services have successfully suppressed one of…: Moscow's state authorities and intelligence services have successfully suppressed one of the country's leading symbols of independent journalism.
  • The outlet had already faced severe operational hurdles, including a revoked media licens…: The outlet had already faced severe operational hurdles, including a revoked media license and an official designation as a foreign agent.
  • Rising legal persecutions and wartime censorship have continued to dismantle Russia's dom…: Rising legal persecutions and wartime censorship have continued to dismantle Russia's domestic free press since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

A symbol of independent journalism, Novaya Gazeta has been classed as a ‘foreign agent’ by Moscow.

Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta has announced it will shut down, citing pressure from the authorities.

The independent outlet’s editorial board said in a statement released on Friday that the newspaper has been forced to end its operations.

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The Russian media has come under increased scrutiny from the state amid Moscow’s war on Ukraine. The authorities recently searched the home of Novaya Gazeta’s senior editor and arrested the editor-in-chief.

“The newspaper is gone. The Russian authorities and … intelligence services forced the editorial staff to cease operations,” the editorial board said in the statement, which was entitled: “We were killed.”

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