Novaya Gazeta, a prominent independent newspaper in Russia, has announced it will cease operations. The editorial board released a statement on Friday declaring that the publication was forced to end its activities by state authorities and intelligence services.
The outlet, long viewed as a bastion of independent journalism in the country, has faced escalating pressure from the Kremlin. In a statement titled “We were killed,” the editorial board confirmed that the newspaper is no longer in existence.
Editor-in-chief taken into custody
Sergei Sokolov, the editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, confirmed the shutdown in a video statement published on YouTube. He stated that the newsroom would turn off its lights and shut down servers on November 9.
“Novaya Gazeta is ceasing to exist,” Sokolov said. “On November 9 we will turn off the lights in our home, where we have lived for 30 years. We will shut down the servers and leave.”
The closure follows a series of legal actions against the newspaper’s leadership. Earlier this month, Russian authorities searched Sokolov’s home and took him in for questioning. Officials linked the action to a criminal case involving his colleague, Oleg Roldugin.
Roldugin was arrested in April and charged with unlawful access to computerized information. The search of Sokolov’s residence and his subsequent detention marked a significant escalation in the state’s campaign against the publication.
Foreign agent designation and past honors
Novaya Gazeta was recently classified as a “foreign agent” by Moscow. This legal label is frequently used by Russian authorities to stifle dissent and impose heavy administrative burdens on media outlets and NGOs.
The newspaper had already reduced its production inside Russia after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. At that time, authorities revoked the media license of the outlet, forcing it to operate under increasingly restrictive conditions.
The publication has a history of international recognition for its work. Dmitry Muratov, the former editor-in-chief, jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021. The award was given for his efforts to safeguard freedom of expression at the helm of the paper.
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders highlighted the severity of the situation following Sokolov’s detention on October 15. The organization noted that six journalists and staff members associated with Novaya Gazeta have been murdered since the start of the war.
“How far will the Kremlin’s relentless campaign against Novaya Gazeta go?” the group asked in a statement. They pointed out that the newsroom had been raided, journalists prosecuted, and the publication designated a foreign agent.
The shutdown of Novaya Gazeta represents a major loss for press freedom in Russia. With censorship levels rising and arrests of regime critics skyrocketing since the invasion of Ukraine, few independent media outlets remain in the country.
Source: Al Jazeera
