Novaya Gazeta to close following pressure from Russian authorities

On October 30, 2026, the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta announced that it is ceasing all operations due to sustained pressure from Russian authorities and intelligence services. The publication's editor-in-chief, Sergey Sokolov, confirmed via a YouTube statement that the newsroom will permanently shut down its servers on November 9, stating that the newspaper essentially no longer exists.

The decision comes after the publication received an eviction order for its historic Moscow headquarters and the deactivation of its reader donation system. Founded in 1993, the newspaper became known for its investigative reporting on political corruption. Earlier this year, the Russian Ministry of Justice designated the outlet as a "foreign agent," a classification frequently used by the government to suppress critical media voices.

While the editorial team stated that the state-led pressures left them with no choice but to cease work, this closure marks the end of a 30-year history of independent journalism in Russia. The outlet, which had survived decades of political challenges, is now vacating its offices and terminating its digital presence entirely.