Novaya Gazeta” ends its operations after 30 years; Sokolov blames authorities and security services

“Novaya Gazeta,” one of Russia’s well-known independent media outlets, has announced that it will cease operations. Its editor-in-chief, Sergei Sokolov, said the decision followed ongoing pressure from Russian authorities and security services. His home was recently searched, while journalist Oleg Roldugin was arrested in April.

In a video posted on YouTube on Friday, Sokolov said the newsroom had been forced to shut down. “Novaya Gazeta is ceasing to exist. The Russian authorities, the Russian security services, have forced the newsroom to end its work,” he said.

The editor-in-chief announced that on November 9, the lights would go out in the newsroom where the newspaper had worked for 30 years, its servers would be shut down, and the staff would leave. “Novaya Gazeta has been killed. On November 9, we will turn off the lights in our home, where we have lived for 30 years. We will shut down the servers and leave,” Sokolov said.

This month, Sokolov was taken in for questioning, and authorities searched his home. The actions were carried out as part of a criminal case involving his colleague, Oleg Roldugin, who was arrested in April.

Roldugin faces a charge of “illegal access to computerized information,” but the authorities have not made further details public. He has denied guilt, according to the Russian state news agency RIA. The journalist is awaiting trial under house arrest; the measure has been extended until November 10, “Novaya Gazeta” reported.

The closure comes as Moscow has increased pressure on independent media and journalists. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Russia has tightened its control over the media and freedom of expression. Restrictions on independent reporting have driven most journalists critical of the Kremlin out of the country.

For years, “Novaya Gazeta” was regarded as one of Russia’s main bastions of independent journalism. Moscow has designated the newspaper a “foreign agent,” a label Russian authorities apply to individuals and organizations they consider linked to foreign influence.

After the war in Ukraine began, the newspaper was forced to restrict its operations inside Russia. In 2022, the authorities revoked its media license, preventing it from publishing as usual.

For decades, “Novaya Gazeta” has been an important voice in investigative journalism and criticism in Russia. Dmitry Muratov, the newspaper’s former editor-in-chief, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, sharing it with Filipino journalist Maria Ressa.

The Nobel Committee recognized Muratov and Ressa for their efforts to defend freedom of expression and independent journalism. The end of “Novaya Gazeta’s” operations is another blow to independent Russian media, as the space for journalism critical of those in power has narrowed significantly since the start of the war in Ukraine.