Last major independent newspaper in Russia shuts down due to political pressure

Novaya Gazeta, Russia's last major independent newspaper critical of the Kremlin, closed its Moscow offices on Monday, citing relentless government pressure. The newspaper said authorities and security services forced it to cease operations, calling it a loss of home. Six of its journalists have been killed, including Anna Politkovskaya.

Novaya Gazeta, Russia's most celebrated independent newspaper, closed its Moscow offices on Monday, citing relentless pressure from government officials. It was the last major independent media outlet critical of the Kremlin that remained active in Russia. In a statement published October 30, the newspaper said the Russian authorities and the security services had forced its editorial team to cease operations. "Human rights and freedoms have been abolished in this country, and defending them is now treated as a crime," the newspaper said. Launched in 1993, Novaya Gazeta became known for its reporting on human rights abuses and corruption. Six of its journalists have been killed, including Anna Politkovskaya. Longtime editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov, who shared the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, was attacked in 2022 and stepped down in 2023 after being named a "foreign agent." The newspaper was fined, had its online platforms blocked, its printing house seized, its media registration revoked, and its donation system shut down. In a final blow, it was ordered to clear out its Moscow offices. Editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov said he believed the newspaper would return one day. Some staff opened Novaya Gazeta Europe in 2022.