Independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta ceases operations following government pressure

The independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta ceased its operations on November 9, 2026. The publication, which was known for investigative reporting on government corruption, vacated its office located in central Moscow on the same day. The closure follows a period of increasing pressure from authorities, including the designation of the outlet as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government in September 2026.

Background and financial challenges

Novaya Gazeta has a history spanning 33 years. It was founded in 1993 based on the principle of "glasnost," or openness, using Nobel Peace Prize funds provided by Mikhail Gorbachev. While the outlet had long been a prominent voice in Russian media, its operations were significantly altered in 2022 when it stopped publishing its print edition following the invasion of Ukraine.

The newspaper faced severe financial difficulties leading up to its closure. According to reports, banks stopped processing reader donations that had previously supported the newspaper's management. This loss of funding, combined with the "foreign agent" designation, contributed to the decision to end activities. Dmitry Muratov, a co-founder and former editor-in-chief who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, criticized the suppression of speech by authorities. He stated that repression in the country is expanding and becoming as intense as a storm, adding that constitutional provisions for political and civil rights are effectively non-functional.

Conflicting accounts of the closure

There is a dispute regarding the primary cause of the newspaper's dissolution. While Novaya Gazeta attributes the closure to government pressure and the loss of funding, the Kremlin has offered a different perspective. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Russian Presidential Administration, described the closure as a normal turnover within the media landscape.

The closure has also highlighted deep divisions regarding the state of the Russian legal and penal systems. Dmitry Muratov has called for a broader ceasefire in Ukraine and the release of approximately 4,000 political prisoners. However, the Kremlin has denied the existence of political prisoners and defended the necessity of censorship laws. These conflicting claims underscore the ongoing tension between independent media entities and state authorities in Russia.

Glossary

• glasnost — Glasnost is a principle meaning openness. It was used as the basis for the founding of the newspaper Novaya Gazeta.