Russia's Novaya Gazeta to close, citing pressure from authorities
Novaya Gazeta, one of Russia's best-known independent news outlets, says it will close next month, according to The Guardian. The paper cites mounting pressure, including the loss of its newsroom, its donation platforms and its legal right to publish. Its former editor, Dmitry Muratov, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021.
Novaya Gazeta, one of Russia's best-known independent news outlets, says it will close permanently next month, according to The Guardian.
"This is not just our own story, it is the story of a country and a society that are being systematically crushed," editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov wrote on the paper's website, The Guardian reports. The paper cites the loss of its newsroom, its donation platforms and its legal right to publish, the outlet reports.
The landlord ordered staff to leave the paper's longtime Moscow office by November 9, The Guardian reports. All of its donation platforms have been shut down, leaving it with no funding, the outlet reports. One of its journalists was arrested in April and is under house arrest awaiting trial, The Guardian reports.
Novaya was launched in the 1990s and was partly funded for years by the late Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, The Guardian reports. Six of its journalists have been killed, including Anna Politkovskaya in 2006, the outlet reports. Its former editor, Dmitry Muratov, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021.
After Russia's full invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the paper stopped printing and lost its license, The Guardian reports. A core team stayed in Russia and kept publishing small magazines, the outlet reports. "Sometimes it happens that your enemies win," said Nadezhda Prusenkova, head of the paper's press service.
What we know: Novaya Gazeta says it will close next month after losing its office, funding and license.
What we don't: Whether its journalists will find another way to keep reporting. Only The Guardian has reported this so far. NewsHabit hasn't seen independent confirmation.
Where outlets agree The Guardian reports Novaya Gazeta says it will close next month, citing pressure from Russian authorities.
Where they differ The Guardian's account is based on statements from Novaya Gazeta staff. Russian authorities have not responded to the paper's claims, the outlet's report indicates.