Russia: Critical newspaper 'Novaya Gazeta' to close
The Russian investigative newspaper said pressure from the authorities had forced its newsroom to stop work.
TL;DR
- Novaya Gazeta announced that it would close after sustained pressure from Russian authorities.
- Its editors blamed the authorities and security services, while RFE/RL reported the eviction of remaining staff from the Moscow office.
- The newspaper said its operations would formally end on 2026-11-09.
Russian investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta announced on 2026-10-30 that it would stop operating, DW and RFE/RL reported. The announcement came amid pressure on independent journalism in Russia. [1] [2]
Editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov said Russian authorities and security services forced the newsroom to end its work, according to DW. RFE/RL reported that authorities had begun evicting the remaining staff from the paper’s Moscow office the previous day. [1] [2]
DW said the newspaper was founded in 1993 and was known for investigations into corruption and Russian politics. Its former editor Dmitry Muratov received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021. [1]
The editors said operations would formally cease on 2026-11-09, RFE/RL reported. The accounts document the newsroom’s explanation and the announced closure, but do not establish an official response to its allegations. [1] [2]
Why it matters
The planned closure removes an established investigative newsroom from Russia’s constrained media environment. The reports do not establish what form, if any, the newsroom’s work will take afterward.
Editor's note
The explanation for the closure is attributed to the newsroom. The reports describe pressure and an eviction, but do not independently establish every allegation against the authorities.