Independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta closes Moscow office

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Nov, 18:13 · Archive

Russian investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta has closed its Moscow office after state pressure and being labelled a 'foreign agent'.

Russian investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta closed its Moscow office on Monday, November 9, after being branded a 'foreign agent' by Russian authorities. The newspaper held a final editorial meeting before vacating its central Moscow premises. Russian officials ordered the closure and banned banks from processing donations from readers and supporters, creating financial pressure on the outlet, which had become dependent on this income after moving to online publishing.

Novaya Gazeta, co-founded by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, had long been critical of the Kremlin and faced increasing pressure in recent years over its coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Dmitry Muratov, the newspaper's founding editor and a 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner, issued an appeal for free speech as journalists gathered to witness the closure. He said: 'Those in our country who advocate for peace have been denied the right to read what they choose, as we see happening today.'

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov characterised the closure as part of a 'rotational process' in Russia's competitive media landscape, downplaying its significance. The newspaper was a flagship for post-Soviet democratic Russia and the era of 'glasnost', or openness, introduced by Gorbachev.

How it is being reported

• Russia: Independent Novaya Gazeta shuts its Moscow newsroomThe investigative newspaper is closing its doors after Russian authorities labeled it a "foreign agent" and ordered it vacate its Moscow premises.DW News · 9 Nov, 16:22
• 'Novaya Gazeta', an independent Russian newspaper critical of Putin, closesRussian investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta was winding up its operations on Monday, November 9, and preparing to quit its central Moscow office after holding its final editorial meeting, bowing to what it said was a campaign of state pressure that had made it impossible to carry on reporting.France 24 · 9 Nov, 11:20

In this story: Novaya Gazeta · Vladimir Putin · Dmitry Muratov · Mikhail Gorbachev · Dmitry Peskov · Russia · Moscow

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