Independent Russian paper Novaya Gazeta to close in November

Independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta announced on Friday that it will cease operations on November 9. The editorial team stated that Russian authorities and security services forced the closure after a sustained campaign of pressure.

The shutdown follows a series of legal and financial moves by the state. Prosecutors pursued several senior journalists, and the newspaper lost its physical office. Additionally, the platform used to receive donations from readers was shut down, removing the outlet's primary source of financial support.

Novaya Gazeta has operated for more than three decades. During that time, it frequently published reports critical of the government. The publication has endured severe difficulties, including the deaths of six of its journalists. Among those killed was Anna Politkovskaya, an investigative reporter.

Pressure on non-state media increased after Russia began its full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022. New censorship rules were introduced that mandated long prison sentences for discrediting the Russian army or spreading what officials define as fake news.

In a statement, the newspaper described the closure as the end of a long period of shared life with the country and its citizens. The team said it carried on as long as possible but was eventually evicted from its home and stripped of its resources. They described their current situation as being homeless and under constant threat of repression.

The Kremlin has not yet issued an immediate comment on the specific announcement. In the past, the government has stated that some censorship is necessary while Russia engages in what it calls an existential struggle with the West over Ukraine. Officials have also accused foreign intelligence services of trying to create discontent within Russian society.

The November 9 date marks the specific end of the newspaper's current operations. The team plans to turn off the lights in its building and shut down its servers on that day.