Novaya Gazeta closed on November 9 after 33 years, leaving Russia without a major independent national newspaper. Staff held a final editorial meeting, took down portraits of six murdered colleagues and left their Potapovsky Lane office to applause and cries of "Thank you."
The paper said Russian authorities and security services forced it to stop, after it lost its donation system and office and its staff were designated "foreign agents" in September. At the farewell, co-founder Dmitry Muratov said the constitutional guarantees of political and civil rights had "effectively ceased to function" and urged the release of about 4,000 political prisoners. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the closure a "normal process of turnover."
Why it matters
With Novaya Gazeta closed, Russia has no major independent national newspaper left to investigate corruption or challenge the Kremlin.
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Key Indicators
6
Journalists and staff murdered
Killed over the paper's history, including Anna Politkovskaya.
100+
Staff and contributors listed as "foreign agents"
Designated by the state in September 2026.
2021
Nobel Peace Prize year
Shared by editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov for defending press freedom.
2022
Year print edition halted
Media licence revoked after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
19 events
Latest: 2 days ago
Showing 8 of 19
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November 2026
Novaya Gazeta closes after 33 years
LatestClosure
Staff held a final editorial meeting, took down portraits of six murdered colleagues and left the Potapovsky Lane office to applause. The paper said authorities and security services forced it to stop.
Kremlin calls closure 'normal process of turnover'
Response
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said some media outlets close and new ones take their place, rejecting the idea that the era of independent Russian media is ending.
Muratov urges release of political prisoners
Statement
At the office, Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov said the constitutional section guaranteeing political and civil rights had 'effectively ceased to function' and urged the release of around 4,000 political prisoners.
October 2026
Novaya Gazeta announces closure
Statement
Farewell statement titled "They Killed Us" says operations end November 9.
UN rights chief condemns closure
International response
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said he was 'deeply concerned and saddened' and called the closure another 'devastating blow' to independent media in Russia.
Anna Politkovskaya museum to close
Closure
The museum in Politkovskaya's former office closes with the newspaper's move out of its Potapovsky Lane offices.
Staff ordered to vacate Moscow office
Legal
Staff were told to leave the Potapovsky Lane office, with a threat to seal the floor if they did not move out in time.
Eviction letter sent, donation system disabled
Legal
Editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov wrote to readers that the paper was being evicted with little time to pack. Its reader-donation system was switched off at the same time.
Editor-in-chief questioned
Legal
Sergei Sokolov taken in for questioning; his home searched.
September 2026
Paper branded 'foreign agent'
Legal
State designates the whole editorial board; lists 100-plus staff and contributors.
June 2026
Roldugin moved to house arrest
Legal
Oleg Roldugin was released from pre-trial detention to house arrest in early June. His trial is pending.
April 2026
Newsroom raided, editor arrested
Legal
Police search offices for 13 hours; Oleg Roldugin arrested on data-access charges.
July 2023
Staff writer beaten in Chechnya
Violence
Observer Elena Milashina kidnapped and beaten nearly to death.
2023
Muratov attacked
Violence
Attacker throws paint and acetone in his face, nearly blinding him.
March 2022
Print edition halted, licence revoked
Legal
Paper stops printing inside Russia as censorship laws take hold after the invasion.
2022
Website blocked in Russia
Censorship
Authorities block access to Novaya Gazeta's online platforms.
October 2021
Muratov wins Nobel Peace Prize
Recognition
Editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov shares the prize for defending press freedom.
October 2006
Anna Politkovskaya murdered
Violence
Investigative journalist shot dead in her Moscow apartment building.
1993
Novaya Gazeta founded
Founding
Launched with backing from Mikhail Gorbachev, embodying his glasnost vision.
Scenarios
1
Roldugin convicted and imprisoned
Likely
Resolves by Q2 2027
Discussed by: Reuters, Reporters Without Borders
Executive editor Oleg Roldugin is under house arrest awaiting trial. Reuters reports his charge, misuse of personal data, carries up to 10 years in prison; HRW reported up to six years for the April charge. No trial date has been reported.
2
Novaya Gazeta Europe carries on the paper's journalism
Possible
Resolves by End of 2027
Discussed by: NBC News, the paper's own farewell statement
Former staff launched Novaya Gazeta Europe from Latvia in 2022. It continues print and online operations and was not covered by Friday's closure. Its survival determines whether the paper's investigative reporting outlives the Moscow operation. The main risks are funding and the strain of operating from exile.
3
More Novaya Gazeta journalists prosecuted
Possible
Resolves by Q2 2027
Discussed by: Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders
The state has listed 100-plus staff as "foreign agents" and prosecuted Roldugin. The open question is whether editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov or other editors face similar criminal charges now that the paper is closed. Additional cases would show the campaign extends beyond shutting the newspaper to punishing individual journalists.
4
Novaya Gazeta returns in a new form
Possible
Resolves by Nov 9, 2027
Discussed by: Sergei Sokolov, Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief
At the paper's final editorial meeting, Sokolov said the newspaper no longer exists but its journalists remain and 'there are far more ways to exist than the Russian authorities can handle.' He also said Novaya Gazeta would return to readers. Whether that means a new outlet inside Russia or an exile project is not clear.
Historical Context
2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
1 of 2
March 2022
Echo of Moscow closure (2022)
Russia's last independent radio station, Echo of Moscow, voted to liquidate in March 2022 after the state media regulator moved to block it over its coverage of the Ukraine invasion. Its editor-in-chief had criticised the war on air.
Then
The station's channels went dark within days.
Now
It became one of the first casualties of the post-invasion media crackdown.
Why this matters now
Showed the pattern Novaya Gazeta's closure completes: independent outlets lose their licence, their platform, then their existence.
2 of 2
March 2022
TV Rain (Dozhd) forced into exile (2022)
Russia's last independent television channel, TV Rain, suspended operations in March 2022 after its bank froze accounts and authorities opened cases against staff. The team fled abroad and relaunched from Latvia.
Then
The channel moved its operations outside Russia.
Now
Exile became the only viable path for independent Russian media.
Why this matters now
TV Rain's exile relaunch is the model Novaya Gazeta Europe follows.
