Novaya Gazeta to Close Offices After 33 Years

Novaya Gazeta announced on Friday that it will cease operations after 33 years, with its final issue scheduled for publication on November 9. The Moscow-based newspaper attributed the closure to sustained pressure from Russian government and security agencies. An editorial statement declared that the authorities forced the team to stop working.

Founded in 1993 with funding from Mikhail Gorbachev's Nobel Peace Prize, the outlet remained the last major independent paper critical of the Kremlin. Its closure follows the start of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, which triggered a wave of media consolidations and website blocks. Russian officials have not issued an immediate comment on the news.

The paper has endured a decade of legal and physical challenges. Six journalists were killed during its run, including Anna Politkovskaya, who was shot in her apartment building in 2006. While five men were convicted of her murder in 2014, no court has ruled on who ordered the killing. Editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov, who shared the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize with Maria Ressa, stepped down in 2023 after being designated a foreign agent. He was previously attacked on a train in 2022 when an assailant poured red paint over him.

Recent administrative actions accelerated the shutdown. The newspaper was fined for allegedly discrediting the armed forces and later stripped of its media registration. Authorities seized its printing house and blocked all online platforms. A final order required the staff to clear its premises, and the system for accepting reader donations was shut down.

The editorial team accused the Federal Security Service, Justice Ministry, and Prosecutor General's office of privatizing state power. The statement claimed these actions violated the constitution, noting that the constitutional ban on censorship now serves as a cruel mockery. It described the constitution as having been raped, beaten, gagged, and thrown into prison for a long time. Leading journalist Oleg Roldugin is currently awaiting trial, and police have searched the newspaper's offices.

The closure marks the end of an era for the publication, which described its situation as the story of a country being systematically destroyed. The statement said more than 30 years of shared life with Russian citizens would end with the team destitute and under threat. Some staff members who relocated abroad continue reporting through Novaya Gazeta Europe, a project that maintains a critical stance on the Kremlin.