Novaya Gazeta closes Moscow offices, citing pressure from authorities
Co‑founder Dmitry Muratov appealed for free speech as the newspaper said state pressure prevented further reporting.
Novaya Gazeta closed its offices in central Moscow today, saying pressure from the authorities has made further reporting impossible.
Co‑founder Dmitry Muratov addressed journalists who had gathered to witness the shutdown and used the moment to warn about shrinking space for dissent in Russia.
History and standing
“Those in our country who advocate for peace have been deprived of the right to read what they want, as we see today. At this moment, the part of the Russian Constitution that guarantees political and civil rights is practically no longer functioning,” Muratov said. Muratov won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the closure of Novaya Gazeta is part of a “rotational process” in a highly competitive media environment.
Novaya Gazeta was founded by Muratov and Mikhail Gorbachev using money the latter received from his 1990 Nobel Peace Prize. Inspired by Gorbachev’s vision of glasnost, the paper grew into one of Russia’s most influential outlets for investigative reporting and criticism of power.
In recent years six journalists from Novaya Gazeta have been killed. The decision to shut the Moscow offices marks a significant setback for independent journalism in Russia.
Photo: press material from the event
