World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Russia’s Novaya Gazeta ends operations after years of state pressure
Novaya Gazeta is ending its work and leaving its Moscow offices after 33 years.
The newspaper was founded in 1993 and became known for investigative reporting on corruption and state abuses.
Its journalists faced growing pressure from Russian authorities, especially after Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022.
The paper was designated a “foreign agent,” and banks stopped processing reader donations that it relied on.
Without that funding, the newspaper said it could not carry on, while its leaders also feared that it could be labelled an extremist organization and put staff at risk of prison.
Its closure removes a prominent independent voice from Russia’s media landscape.
Its editorial work is ending, though a journalist said the paper’s spirit would live on among those who were part of it.
Russia’s independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta ended its editorial work on November 9 after 33 years.
The newspaper said state pressure had made it impossible to continue reporting.
It had been designated a “foreign agent,” and banks stopped processing reader donations, a key source of funding.
Its journalists feared the outlet could be classified as an “extremist organization,” putting those who continued working for it at risk of prison.
The Kremlin played down the closure, describing it as part of a standard process in a competitive media environment.
- Who
- Novaya Gazeta, the Russian independent newspaper led by Dmitry Muratov.
- What
- It closed its editorial operation and prepared to leave its Moscow office after 33 years.
- When
- November 9, 2026.
- Where
- Moscow, Russia.
- Why
- The newspaper said state pressure made it impossible to continue. Its foreign-agent designation and loss of reader donations also affected its ability to operate.
Novaya Gazeta
Kremlin
Reason for closure
Novaya Gazeta
The newspaper said a campaign of state pressure made it impossible to carry on reporting.
Kremlin
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the closure as part of a standard process in a competitive media environment.
Media restrictions
Novaya Gazeta
The paper’s leadership feared it could be designated an “extremist organization,” putting its staff at risk of prison.
Kremlin
The Kremlin has said some censorship is necessary during what it calls an existential struggle with the West over Ukraine.
Novaya Gazeta published its first issue, under the name Novaya Yezhednevnaya Gazeta.
The newspaper stopped appearing in print after Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine.
Novaya Gazeta was listed as a “foreign agent.
Muratov and editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov met staff and decided to close the newspaper, according to n-tv.
The editorial team published a statement announcing the closure, according to n-tv.
The newspaper ended its editorial work and prepared to leave its Moscow office.
- Years in operation
- 33
- First issue
- April 1, 1993
- Closure
- November 9, 2026
- Headquarters
- Potapovsky Lane, Moscow
- Founder
- Mikhail Gorbachev
- Editor-in-chief
- Dmitry Muratov
5 sources
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What people are saying
We haven't died, they've killed us − along with the Constitution. You can only laugh at Article 29 of the Constitution: 'Censorship is prohibited,'
The most awful thing is that we who lead editorial teams cannot protect our journalists
a standard rotational process
Not even a nuclear explosion could destroy it. It will continue in everyone who was part of it.