Russia's leading independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta closes after eviction

Russia's prominent independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta has closed its Moscow offices after three decades, citing relentless pressure from government authorities, according to PBS NewsHour World. The outlet was the last major independent media critical of the Kremlin still operating inside Russia after others closed or moved abroad following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Novaya Gazeta stated that Russian authorities and security services forced its editorial team to cease operations, highlighting the erosion of human rights, freedoms, and civil society institutions in the country, as reported by PBS NewsHour World. The newspaper was known for its investigative reporting on human rights abuses and corruption since its launch in 1993.

The BBC reported that Novaya Gazeta faced eviction from its longstanding offices and was blocked from receiving donations, leading to the closure. The team held a final editorial meeting before packing up, marking the end of an era for the publication.

The Kremlin's spokesman described the closure as part of a 'standard rotational process' in Russia's diverse media landscape, according to the BBC. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov, a co-founder of the newspaper, commented on the closure in interviews cited by the BBC.

Novaya Gazeta's history includes the deaths of six journalists, including Anna Politkovskaya, who was killed in 2006 after reporting on the Chechen War. The closure symbolizes the shrinking space for independent journalism in Russia, as noted by PBS NewsHour World.