Novaya Gazeta closes Moscow office after Russian state pressure

Novaya Gazeta, Russia's last remaining newspaper openly critical of the Kremlin and the war in Ukraine, has closed its Moscow newsroom, Euronews, DW.com, and Al Jazeera reported. The outlet was forced to cease operating after Russian authorities stripped it of its media registration and blocked its ability to run, according to Euronews. The newspaper released a statement on 30 October confirming that censors and security services forced the editorial team to stop its activities, Euronews reported. [1][6][8]

Authorities ordered the newsroom staff to clear out of its premises, Euronews reported. Officials also blocked its online resources, stopped its printing arrangements, and shut down its reader donation system, according to Euronews. The New York Times reported that one of its journalists noted the process of silencing the paper had started many years ago. [1][2]

Novaya Gazeta was an independent Russian newspaper published in Moscow that became known for its investigative reporting on political affairs, corruption, and authoritarianism, according to Wikipedia. Editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov received the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to protect freedom of expression, Grokipedia notes. Six journalists from the outlet have been killed over the years, including Anna Politkovskaya in 2006, as FTMQ News reported earlier. [9][12][14]

In March 2022, Novaya Gazeta suspended domestic operations to avoid legal penalties under censorship laws that banned describing the Ukraine conflict as a war, Grokipedia notes. A court subsequently revoked its license later that year, Grokipedia notes. The paper had continued to operate online until state pressure forced the final closure of its Moscow operations, according to Euronews and The New York Times. [1][2][12]