Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov detained in Moscow

On October 15, 2026, Russian authorities detained Sergei Sokolov, the editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, following a raid on his Moscow apartment. Contact with Sokolov was lost around noon, shortly before he was scheduled to attend an editorial meeting. The newspaper, which has been designated a "foreign agent" by the Russian government, confirmed that he was subsequently transported to the Investigative Committee of Russia for interrogation.

Law enforcement sources cited by the media outlet RBC stated that the raid is part of a criminal investigation initiated in the spring. According to reports from the state news agency TASS, the case involves allegations of illegal processing of personal data. This charge is linked to an ongoing investigation involving another journalist from the newspaper, Oleg Roldugin, who was charged with similar offenses in April. Roldugin, known for his investigations into corruption among high-ranking Russian officials, has denied these accusations. At present, legal counsel is assisting Sokolov as the investigation proceeds.