Novaya Gazeta to shut down after being classed a foreign agent

What happened

Novaya Gazeta, a Russian newspaper founded in 1993, is shutting down ¹². The paper is classed by Moscow as a foreign agent ³. Its editor said the editorial team had been forced to end its work ⁴. The paper will shut down its servers on November 9 ⁵.

Dmitry Muratov, the paper's then editor-in-chief, jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 ⁶.

What is confirmed

The confirmed claims establish that Novaya Gazeta was founded in 1993 ², that Dmitry Muratov jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 ⁶, that the Russian authorities forced the paper to shut ⁴, that it will shut down its servers on November 9 ⁵, that Moscow classes it as a foreign agent ³, and that it is shutting down ¹.

Where the accounts differ

The ledger records no direct denial of the confirmed claims. Accounts differ in emphasis. European outlets (Euronews, Financial Times, BBC, The Guardian, France 24) foreground the paper's shutdown under Kremlin pressure and government pressure, describing it as an independent newspaper and a bastion of free press, and highlighting the impact on the newsroom and related institutions. US media (The New York Times) centre the paper's decision to shut down, using the term fiercely independent. Middle East state media (Al Jazeera) centre the closure, using terms like forces and foreign agent, and foreground the Russian authorities' actions alongside the paper's history of independent journalism. Asian media (South China Morning Post) centre the closure under Kremlin pressure, using the term devastating blow and foregrounding statements by UN rights chief Volker Turk and former editor-in-chief Muratov ⁷⁸.

What is not known yet

Several details rest on single outlets. Volker Turk said the closure was yet another devastating blow for remaining independent media in the Russian Federation, reported only by South China Morning Post ⁷. Sergei Sokolov said the Russian authorities and special services forced the editorial team to end its work, reported only by South China Morning Post ⁹. Dmitry Muratov said the paper was a fierce opponent of war in all its forms, reported only by South China Morning Post ⁸. Anna Politkovskaya was found dead in her apartment block in October 2006, reported only by South China Morning Post ¹⁰. Mikhail Gorbachev donated Nobel Peace Prize money to the paper, reported only by South China Morning Post ¹¹. The museum of journalist Anna Politkovskaya is closing, reported only by Euronews ¹². One final issue is still set to be published, reported only by Euronews ¹³. Novaya Gazeta Europe has its main office in Latvia, reported only by Euronews ¹⁴. The paper's media licence was revoked in 2022, reported only by Euronews ¹⁵. The website was blocked, reported only by BBC ¹⁶. Oleg Roldugin was arrested and charged, reported only by BBC ¹⁷. Sokolov was taken in for questioning on October 15, reported only by Al Jazeera ¹⁸. Six of its journalists and staff members have been murdered, reported only by Al Jazeera ¹⁹. The ledger leaves open how the shutdown will affect the paper's remaining staff and whether further legal steps will follow.

Why it matters

The closure removes a paper that Moscow classifies as a foreign agent ³ and that the confirmed record says was forced to shut by the Russian authorities ⁴. This suggests the foreign agent designation and the pressure described by the paper's editor are connected in the accounts given to several outlets ³⁴. If the single-source reports are accurate, the shutdown also affects related institutions, including a museum dedicated to Anna Politkovskaya ¹², and follows the questioning of editor Sergei Sokolov ¹⁸. Analysis: the episode is presented by European, US, Middle East state and Asian outlets as a press-freedom story, while the ledger contains no Russian government statement defending the designation or the closure.