Russia: Novaya Gazeta, the last independent newspaper, ceases work

The independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta has ceased operations and evacuated its offices. According to its own statements, the medium bowed to ongoing pressure from the Russian authorities.

At the end of last month, the editorial team announced its closure after the newspaper was classified as a "foreign agent", had to give up its offices and banks blocked readers' donations.

Co-founder and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitri Muratov made an urgent appeal to the public at the closure to stand up for freedom of expression and human rights. In Russia, the political and civil rights guaranteed by the constitution are practically suspended, Muratov told journalists.

"Those in our country who work for peace have been deprived of the right to read whatever they want, as we are witnessing today," Muratov said. "We are currently at a point where the part of the Russian constitution that guarantees political and civil rights is practically no longer functioning." He called for the release of about 4,000 political prisoners in Russia and called for a comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine. At the same time, he emphasized, a distinction must be made between the Russian leadership and the population.

Novaya Gazeta was considered critical of the government and one of the most influential independent voices in Russia. It was founded by Muratov and the last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who donated the prize money from his 1990 Nobel Peace Prize for this purpose.

The newspaper has been under great pressure for years because of its research and critical reporting on the human rights situation in Russia. Six newspaper journalists were murdered because of their work. After the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, the situation for Novaya Gazeta became even worse, which is why it stopped its printed edition. However, she continued to report online.

It is unclear whether the newspaper can continue in another form. On its website, a review of the last few weeks said that the spirit of the editorial team would survive like a "good virus." It cannot be destroyed even by a nuclear explosion and lives on in everyone who was part of the project, said journalist Irina Vorobyova.