Novaya Gazeta announced its closure on Friday, declaring it had been "killed" by state pressure after the Ministry of Justice revoked its media licence and arrested key reporters. Editor‑in‑Chief Sergei Sokolov said the paper would cease publishing, citing relentless harassment and the loss of its editorial team.
Founded in 1993, Novaya Gazeta grew into Russia’s most respected independent voice, documenting human rights abuses from Chechnya to the Ukraine war. Its former editor‑in‑Chief Dmitry Muratov received a Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for defending free expression, a testament to the outlet’s global influence.
The Kremlin’s crackdown began in 2022, with the paper branded a "foreign agent" and its licence revoked in 2023. Journalists such as Oleg Roldugin faced arrest on charges of unlawful data access, while Sokolov’s home was searched and he was placed under house arrest.
Reporters Without Borders condemned the move, urging Moscow to end judicial harassment. Sokolov’s wife, who lives in the same building as the police, said the house feels like a battlefield, a stark reminder of the personal toll of state repression.
The final issue will appear online, and the Ministry of Justice has filed a lawsuit to confiscate the newspaper’s archives. International rights groups are preparing a coordinated response, while the Russian government intensifies its campaign against dissenting voices.