By Karim Hammam
Russia's renowned independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta announced Friday it will cease operations after more than three decades, blaming relentless official pressure. The paper said it will shut its office on Nov. 9 after publishing its final issue.
Decades of independent journalism
Launched in 1993 with funding from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's Nobel Peace Prize money, Novaya Gazeta became Russia's last major independent outlet critical of the Kremlin after others were shuttered or blocked following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Crackdown intensifies after Ukraine invasion
Authorities methodically targeted the paper, labeling it a "foreign agent," blocking its online platforms, seizing its printing house, revoking its media registration, and ordering it to vacate its premises. The donation system supporting the paper was also shut down.
Final editorial statement
In a final editorial, the newspaper declared that Russian security agencies, including the FSB, the Justice Ministry, and the Prosecutor General's Office, had "privatized the state and usurped power," violating the constitution. It described human rights as abolished and civil society wiped out.
Legacy of killed journalists and Muratov
Six Novaya Gazeta journalists have been killed, including Anna Politkovskaya in 2006. Longtime editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov, a 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was attacked in 2022 and later designated a foreign agent, stepping down in 2023. Journalist Oleg Roldugin currently awaits trial.
Staff launch Novaya Gazeta Europe
Some staff who relocated abroad launched Novaya Gazeta Europe, which continues to criticize the Kremlin and its military actions in Ukraine.
