Novaya Gazeta to Cease Operations Amid Increasing Pressure

Novaya Gazeta, Russia’s foremost investigative newspaper, announced its complete shutdown on November 9. This decision comes after over three decades in operation as authorities intensify their pressure on the media. In a farewell letter, the newspaper stated, “They’ve killed us. The Russian authorities and the Russian security services have forced our editorial team to cease its operations.”

Established in 1993 by journalists inspired by the post-Soviet era’s newfound freedoms, Novaya Gazeta earned a reputation as Russia’s most renowned independent newspaper. It is celebrated for its investigative work and its critiques of the government. Despite immense pressure during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the paper has continued to operate within Russia.

Recently, Novaya Gazeta was notified about being evicted from its Moscow office. Additionally, its financial accounts were blocked due to being labeled a “foreign agent” by Russian authorities. The paper’s editor in chief, Sergei Sokolov, faced detention and interrogation. Dmitry Muratov, the co-founder and publisher, was a co-recipient of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. Muratov dedicated this honor to six journalists, including Anna Politkovskaya, who was killed in 2006 after spending years reporting on human rights abuses and the Kremlin’s Chechen war.