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Russia ‘forces’ closure of investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta
Al Jazeera • • general
Key Points:
- Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta announced it will shut down operations due to intense pressure and crackdowns from Russian authorities.
- The editorial board stated the closure was forced by government and intelligence services amid increased repression of independent media following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- Novaya Gazeta had been labeled a "foreign agent" by Moscow, a designation used to suppress dissent, and its editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov was recently arrested and questioned.
- The paper has faced severe challenges including raids, prosecutions, and the murder of six journalists, reflecting a broader crackdown on press freedom in Russia.
- Novaya Gazeta’s former editor Dmitry Muratov won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for defending freedom of expression at the newspaper.
