‘Strangled to death’: How the Kremlin turned out the lights at Russia’s top independent newspaper
Russia’s top independent newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, has shut down its office after more than 30 years, citing government pressure and a clampdown on independent media. The closure follows years of legal and regulatory pressure that forced staff into exile and ended print operations. Multiple outlets report the paper ceased operations after sustained state action against its journalists and editorial independence. The shutdown removes one of Russia’s last major independent newsrooms from domestic reporting.
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- ✓ Novaya Gazeta closed its office after more than three decades, citing government pressure.
- ✓ The newspaper suspended print publication in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- ✓ Editor Dmitry Muratov received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for defending freedom of expression.
- ✓ Multiple news organizations report the closure as a result of a government clampdown on independent media.
What changed
The newspaper has closed its office and ended operations after more than 30 years of publishing.
Live updates
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Kremlin pressure closes Novaya Gazeta after three decades
Russia’s top independent newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, has shut down its office after more than 30 years, citing government pressure and a clampdown on independent media. The closure follows years of legal and regulatory pressure that forced staff into exile and ended print operations. Multiple outlets report the paper ceased operations after sustained state action against its journalists and editorial independence. The shutdown removes one of Russia’s last major independent newsrooms from domestic reporting.
Why it matters
Novaya Gazeta built its reputation over three decades on investigative reporting into corruption, human rights abuses and Kremlin-linked violence. Its editor Dmitry Muratov won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for defending freedom of expression. The newspaper suspended print publication in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and faced new restrictions under wartime censorship laws. Its closure leaves Russian readers with far fewer independent sources inside the country.
What is confirmed
- Novaya Gazeta closed its office after more than three decades, citing government pressure.
- The newspaper suspended print publication in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- Editor Dmitry Muratov received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for defending freedom of expression.
- Multiple news organizations report the closure as a result of a government clampdown on independent media.
Still unconfirmed
- Staff members have relocated abroad and plan to continue publishing from exile.
What to watch next
- Whether former staff launch an exile-based successor publication
- Any criminal or administrative cases opened against former Novaya Gazeta journalists
- Further closures of remaining independent Russian news outlets
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (7)
- www.nbcnews.com — NBC News - Breaking Headlines and Video Reports on World, U.S....
- ny1.com — 5-year-old girl found dead in Queens home, police say
- The New York Times — The Lights Go Out at Novaya Gazeta, Russia’s Bravest Newspaper
- NBC News — ‘Strangled to death’: How the Kremlin turned out the lights at Russia’s top independent newspaper
- PBS — Citing government pressure, Russia's top independent newspaper closes its office after three decades
- Al Jazeera — Russian investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta closes citing gov’t clampdown
- NPR — Russia’s most famous independent newspaper has shut down after more than 30 years
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