The independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta announced that it will cease operations due to pressure from the Russian government and security threats. The editorial of this newspaper was published on Friday under the title "They killed us" and referred to the difficult working conditions they faced.
History of Novaya Gazeta
Novaya Gazeta was founded in 1993 after the collapse of the Soviet Union and was recognized as one of the few remaining independent media outlets in Russia. The newspaper was known for its investigations into corruption and critical coverage of Russian policies. However, since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, conditions for this newspaper have severely worsened.
Response to pressures and threats
Sergei Sokolov, the editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, stated in a video message that Russian officials have forced them to stop working and that they will completely cease operations by November 9. He added that after 30 years of shared life with the country and its citizens, the newspaper is now going to the streets.
The newspaper also referred to the current state of Russia under Vladimir Putin's leadership, stating: "This is not just our personal story; it is the story of a country and a society that ends in this way."
Novaya Gazeta also announced that this shutdown reflects the state of human rights and freedoms in Russia, which have been severely impacted by government repression.
Two weeks ago, Sokolov was interrogated over allegations of illegal use of personal data. These allegations are related to a case involving one of his colleagues, Oleg Roldugin, who was arrested on charges of unauthorized access to computer information.
International human rights organizations condemned the targeting of Novaya Gazeta and called on the Kremlin to end the judicial harassment of journalists. Novaya Gazeta, in a statement regarding this matter, described the current situation as an ongoing crime occurring before the eyes of the world.
