Russia's bastion of free press Novaya Gazeta shuts down under Kremlin pressure

The once-prominent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta has announced plans to cease operations following intense pressure from state authorities. In a statement released on Friday, the paper's editor-in-chief, Sergei Sokolov, declared that the organization would be shutting down after a 30-year tenure. The Russian special services have forced the editorial team to cease its work, Sokolov added in a video message.

Founded in 1993, Novaya Gazeta was one of the few independent media outlets in Russia, known for its critical reporting on corruption and political issues. However, the outlet has faced increasing censorship and repression since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Many independent journalists have been forced into exile, while those remaining in Russia have been labeled as "foreign agents" and subjected to numerous restrictions.

Editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov, a recipient of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, dedicated his prize to colleagues who were killed for their work, including Anna Politkovskaya, who was murdered in 2006. The newspaper expressed the end of 30 years of life together with their country and citizens, stating that the closure reflects the state of modern Russia under President Putin.

The announcement comes two weeks after Sokolov was questioned by investigators over the alleged unlawful use of personal data in a case against a colleague, Oleg Roldugin. Roldugin has pleaded not guilty to charges of obtaining unlawful access to computerized information, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. International media rights groups have condemned the targeting of Novaya Gazeta, urging the Kremlin to end judicial harassment of its journalists.