Putin shuts down Russia’s last independent newspaper
Novaya Gazeta announced it will close on November 9 due to mounting pressure from authorities and security services. The closure of Russia's last independent newspaper marks the effective erasure of the free press in the country under President Vladimir Putin. Staff at the publication declared that the news outlet no longer exists, stating that they were killed by the ongoing crackdown on independent media. The decision follows a prolonged campaign of government hostility toward critical journalism inside Russia.
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- ✓ Novaya Gazeta will close on November 9, citing mounting pressure from authorities and security services.
- ✓ The publication is widely described as Russia's last independent newspaper.
- ✓ Dmitry Muratov serves as the editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta.
What changed
Novaya Gazeta formally announced its impending closure date of November 9 after citing unbearable pressure from special services.
Live updates
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Russia Shuts Down Last Independent Newspaper Novaya Gazeta
Novaya Gazeta announced it will close on November 9 due to mounting pressure from authorities and security services. The closure of Russia's last independent newspaper marks the effective erasure of the free press in the country under President Vladimir Putin. Staff at the publication declared that the news outlet no longer exists, stating that they were killed by the ongoing crackdown on independent media. The decision follows a prolonged campaign of government hostility toward critical journalism inside Russia.
Why it matters
The closure extinguishes the final major platform for independent reporting and investigative journalism inside Russia. Novaya Gazeta has long operated under extreme pressure, losing multiple journalists to targeted killings over the years. Its editor-in-chief, Dmitry Muratov, previously received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work defending freedom of expression.
What is confirmed
- Novaya Gazeta will close on November 9, citing mounting pressure from authorities and security services.
- The publication is widely described as Russia's last independent newspaper.
- Dmitry Muratov serves as the editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta.
What to watch next
- Any official statements from the Kremlin regarding the closure of Novaya Gazeta.
- Further actions by Russian authorities targeting remaining individual journalists from the outlet.
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (17)
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- The Economist — The Kremlin is shutting down Russia’s last free newspaper
- The Guardian — Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta to close, citing pressure from ‘special services’
- Al Jazeera — Russia ‘forces’ closure of investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta
- BBC — Prominent Russian newspaper shuts down under pressure from authorities
- The Telegraph — Putin shuts down Russia’s last independent newspaper
- CNN — ‘They killed us’: Russia’s last independent newspaper falls silent amid pressure from Kremlin
- The New York Times — Novaya Gazeta, Fiercely Independent Russian News Outlet, Says It Will Shut Down
- CBS News — Novaya Gazeta, Russia's last independent newspaper, "no longer exists," as Putin erases the free press
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