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The quiet death of Novaya Gazeta: How a once-powerful newspaper refused to leave Russia — and slowly lost its voice
Novaya Gazeta, one of Russia’s best-known independent newspapers, has shut down after years of pressure from the authorities steadily weakened its ability to publish and reach readers. Its closure marks the loss of a prominent voice that investigated corruption and human rights abuses, as Russia’s independent media have faced growing restrictions.
Founded in 1993, the paper was partly financed with money awarded to former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev with his Nobel Peace Prize. Its reporting challenged official accounts of events including the Beslan siege and documented abuses during the Chechen Wars; six of its journalists were murdered, including Anna Politkovskaya. The paper, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov, cited pressure from security services, eviction from its offices and loss of its reader donation system.
In short
- Novaya Gazeta has ceased publication after years of pressure.
- The paper was founded in 1993 and investigated abuses and corruption.
- Six of its journalists were murdered, including Anna Politkovskaya.
Explained simply
Novaya Gazeta was an independent Russian newspaper founded in 1993, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It was partly funded by money from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s Nobel Peace Prize, and became known for reporting on corruption, human rights abuses and conflicts.
Its journalists included Anna Politkovskaya, who was murdered in 2006; six Novaya Gazeta journalists have been murdered. The paper was led by Dmitry Muratov, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021. Independent news organisations in Russia have faced increasing restrictions, making it harder for them to publish and reach readers.