World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Novaya Gazeta announces it will close after decades of pressure
Novaya Gazeta says it will close after more than three decades of publishing in Russia.
The newspaper said Russian authorities and security services forced its newsroom to stop working.
It plans to publish one final edition, then turn off its servers and leave its Moscow office on Nov.
9.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, authorities have blocked its websites and revoked its media registration, while the paper suspended print publication under censorship laws.
In September 2026, the whole editorial staff was designated foreign agents, adding to pressure that included searches, detentions and the loss of its donation system.
Novaya Gazeta was known for investigative reporting on corruption and human rights abuses, and six of its reporters have been murdered over the years.
Its closure removes a prominent independent newsroom from Russia as restrictions on critical reporting continue.
Novaya Gazeta announced on October 30 that it would cease operations after more than three decades.
The newspaper said it would shut down its servers and leave its Moscow office on November 9.
Its editorial team blamed Russian authorities and security services for forcing it to stop working.
The outlet cited lost access to donations, eviction from its office and the threat of repression.
Novaya Gazeta had faced mounting pressure since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
- Who
- Novaya Gazeta, an independent Russian newspaper.
- What
- It announced that it would cease operations.
- When
- The announcement was made on October 30, 2026. It said it would leave its office and shut down its servers on November 9.
- Where
- Moscow, Russia.
- Why
- The newspaper said Russian authorities and security services had forced it to stop working, amid repression, eviction and the loss of donations.
Novaya Gazeta editorial team
Russian authorities
Responsibility for closure
Novaya Gazeta editorial team
The editorial team said authorities and security services forced it to cease operations.
Russian authorities
The authorities did not immediately comment on the closure.
Restrictions on media
Novaya Gazeta editorial team
Novaya Gazeta said censorship laws and other state actions had prevented it from reporting and publishing freely.
Russian authorities
The Kremlin has said some censorship is necessary during what it describes as an existential struggle with the West over Ukraine.
Novaya Gazeta suspended print publication shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russian authorities designated Novaya Gazeta a foreign agent.
According to The Economist, the newspaper’s editorial staff met and decided to close.
News emerged that the editorial staff was being evicted from its Moscow office.
Novaya Gazeta announced that it was ceasing operations.
The newspaper said it would shut down its servers and leave its office.
- Founded
- 1993
- Closure announcement
- October 30, 2026
- Planned departure
- November 9, 2026
- Office location
- Potapovsky Lane, central Moscow
- Foreign-agent designation
- September 2026
- Nobel Peace Prize
- Dmitry Muratov won in 2021
8 sources
Russia's last free newspaper 'Novaya Gazeta' closes as press freedom faces its swan song
‘They killed us’: Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta announces its closure after decades of repression
Russia’s Oldest Independent Newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, Announces Closure
Russian investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta says it is shutting down after 'coordinated campaign'
Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta to close, citing pressure from ‘special services’
Russia's bastion of free press Novaya Gazeta shuts down under Kremlin pressure
What people are saying
The Russian authorities and Russian security services forced the editorial staff to stop working.
On November 9, we will turn off the lights in our home, where we have lived for 30 years. We will shut down the servers and leave.
We managed to work in tight isolation under the watch of the security services for almost 5 years of war. And now, we’ve found ourselves in the ‘kill zone’.