Russia's top independent newspaper closes under relentless government pressure
asserted
newspaper → close → pressure
Novaya Gazeta, last major independent media critical of Kremlin, saw staff killed, attacked in Putin's Russia
Novaya Gazeta, Russia's most celebrated independent newspaper, closed its Moscow offices Monday, citing relentless pressure from government officials.
It was the last major independent media outlet critical of the Kremlin that remained active in Russia.
asserted
that → see → Russia
Others closed or moved their operations abroad after President Vladimir Putin launched Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
asserted
Putin → close → February
In a statement published Oct. 30, the newspaper said the Russian authorities and the security services had "forced our editorial team to cease operations."
asserted
authorities → publish → operations
"Human rights and freedoms have been abolished in this country, and defending them is now treated as a crime," the newspaper said.
asserted
newspaper → abolish → crime
"Elections and elected governing bodies have been effectively dismantled, civil society institutions have been wiped out, freedom of conscience and human dignity have been trampled underfoot."
asserted
freedom → elect → conscience
The newspaper was launched in 1993 by Dmitry Muratov and the last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, using money from Gorbachev's 1990 Nobel Peace Prize.
asserted
newspaper → launch → Prize
Novaya Gazeta quickly became known for its fierce reporting and dedication to uncovering Russian human rights abuses and corruption.
asserted
Gazeta → know → abuses
Six of its journalists have been killed, including Anna Politkovskaya, who reported on atrocities during the second Chechen War at the start of Putin's first term as president.
asserted
who → kill → president
She was fatally shot in her apartment building in 2006.
asserted
She → shoot → 2006
On the newspaper's final day in its office Monday, journalists slowly removed the portraits of their slain colleagues from the newsroom where reporters and editors planned their work.
asserted
reporters → remove → work
Sergei Sokolov, editor-in-chief of the Novaya Gazeta daily, collects portraits of slain journalists from the offices as the newspaper closes down in Moscow on Monday.
asserted
newspaper → collect → Monday
Tatiana Britskaya, the editor of Novaya Gazeta's investigations desk, said she had expected the outlet's closure almost every day for the past 4½ years.
asserted
she → say → years
"It is an incredibly difficult decision, because this is more than a workplace, more than an office — this is our home, and we're losing it," she said.
asserted
she → lose → it
Novaya Gazeta had faced growing government pressure as the Kremlin cracked down on critics, with repression sharply intensifying after the start of the conflict in Ukraine.
asserted
repression → face → Ukraine
Editor attacked on train
Longtime editor-in-chief Muratov, who shared the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize with Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, was attacked on a train in 2022 by an assailant who poured red paint over him, causing severe irritation in his eyes.
asserted
who → attack → eyes
Muratov stepped down as editor in 2023 after being named a "foreign agent" by Russian authorities.
asserted
Muratov → step → authorities
The designation carries strong pejorative connotations in the country and can bring additional government scrutiny.
asserted
designation → carry → scrutiny
The newspaper was fined after it was accused of discrediting Russia's armed forces, and it also was declared a foreign agent.
asserted
it → fin → forces
Authorities blocked all of its online platforms, seized its printing house, revoked its media registration and shut down the donation system that allowed it to receive support from readers.
asserted
it → block → readers
In a final blow, the newspaper was ordered to clear out its Moscow offices.
asserted
newspaper → order → offices
As reporters left the building and gathered in the street, a new sign was affixed atop the nameplate that once announced the newspaper's office.
asserted
that → leave → office
It read, "Here lived Novaya Gazeta."
asserted
Gazeta → read → ?
Sergei Sokolov, Novaya Gazeta's editor-in-chief, said he believed the newspaper would return one day "with renewed strength."
"We will live, and I am sure that this country, caught in such a terrible era, will eventually stir.
asserted
country → say → era
As soon as those first signs appear, Novaya Gazeta will return, to our readers and to our colleagues.
asserted
Gazeta → appear → colleagues
"
'You cannot blame citizens for this'
Muratov said people needed to understand that it was the Kremlin that was to blame for waging the war and suppressing free speech.
asserted
that → blame → speech
"We cannot blame the citizens themselves for this — especially the wonderful, truly remarkable younger generation.
asserted
We → blame → this
I urge you to distinguish between the Russian authorities and the Russian people," he said.
asserted
he → urge → authorities
Canada's Russian envoy returns with advice on how to hit back against Putin
Russia denies think-tank assessment that 1.2 million of its troops have been killed or injured in Ukraine war
The Kremlin defends the need for censorship laws, denies there are any political prisoners and says that Russia is taking necessary action at a time of war to prosecute people engaged in subversive activity.
asserted
Russia → return → activity
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the newspaper's closure was part of a "rotational process" in a fiercely competitive media environment.
asserted
closure → say → environment
Some of Novaya Gazeta's staff left Russia in 2022 and opened a separate project, Novaya Gazeta Europe.
asserted
Some → leave → project
The Aporia
