Independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta announces closure under pressure from authorities

The Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, one of the main historical references of the independent press in the country, announced this Friday (30) that it will close its activities. According to the editor-in-chief, Sergei Sokolov, the decision was motivated by pressure from the Russian authorities, who intensified the repression against the vehicle.

"Novaya Gazeta is ceasing to exist," Sokolov said in a statement posted on YouTube. "The Russian authorities, the Russian secret services, forced the editorial team to cease its work," he added.

The announcement comes after a series of measures against the newspaper and its professionals. Earlier this month, Sokolov was questioned by authorities, who also searched his residence as part of a criminal investigation against one of the outlet's journalists, Oleg Rolduguin, arrested in April.

Rolduguin was indicted for "illegal access to information", without the authorities having released further details about the case. According to state news agency RIA Novosti, he denied the allegations.

"They killed Novaya Gazeta," declared Sokolov. He also announced that the newsroom will permanently close its activities on November 9, when the servers will be turned off and the office will be closed. "We will turn off the lights in our house, where we have lived for 30 years. We will turn off the servers and leave," he said.

Russia has intensified its crackdown on independent media outlets since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Since then, the government has imposed restrictions on war coverage and censorship measures that have led many independent journalists to leave the country.

Novaya Gazeta also reduced its activities inside Russia after the start of the military offensive. In the same year, authorities revoked the newspaper's operating license. The vehicle was also classified as a "foreign agent", a term used by the Russian government to impose restrictions on organizations and people considered linked to external interests.

The newspaper's then editor-in-chief, Dmitri Muratov, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, alongside Filipino journalist Maria Ressa. The two were recognized for their "efforts to safeguard freedom of expression" in their countries.