Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta announces permanent closure amid state pressure

Independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta announced on Friday, 30 October 2026, that it will cease publication and permanently close its operations. UN News, Guardian Europe, Al Jazeera English, South China Morning Post, France 24 English, and Euronews Europe all reported the planned closure. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed deep concern over the shutdown, UN News reported. [1][2][3][4][5][6]

The newspaper stated that intense pressure from Russian authorities made it impossible to continue its work. Guardian Europe reported that the outlet faced being stripped of its newsroom, donation platforms, and legal right to publish. South China Morning Post reported that the newspaper said it had been killed by state pressure, while France 24 English noted that the closure follows more than three decades of publication. [2][3][4][5][6]

State scrutiny of independent media in Russia has intensified alongside the war in Ukraine. Al Jazeera English reported that the authorities recently searched the home of a senior editor at Novaya Gazeta and arrested its editor in chief. The outlet had previously been designated as a foreign agent by Moscow. [3][4][6]

Novaya Gazeta is recognized for its critical and investigative coverage of Russian political affairs, corruption, and the Chechen wars. Its former editor in chief Dmitry Muratov was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, Guardian Europe noted. The outlet previously stopped its print edition in Moscow after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and operated online until announcing its total shutdown. [2][10]