Russia - Closure of the Novaya Gazeta newspaper

France deeply regrets the definitive closure, under pressure from the Russian authorities, of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta.

Co-founded in 1993 by Dmitry Muratov, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, Novaya Gazeta has always embodied the commitment of many Russian journalists to protecting an independent, free press in Russia.

That commitment has cost several of them their lives: Igor Domnikov in 2000, Yuri Shchekochikhin in 2023, Anna Politkovskaya in 2006, and Stas Markelov, Anastasia Baburova and Natalia Estemirova in 2009. Many others have suffered pressure, threats, attacks and arrests, including only very recently.

Already in March 2022, after the Russian war of aggression had been launched against Ukraine, the newspaper was forced to close its paper version and its Youtube channel, and was banned from Russia. It had also been threatened on several occasions with prosecution for violating Russia’s law on “foreign agents”.

The definitive closure of Novaya Gazeta is a sad day for press freedom.
France stands and will continue to stand alongside defenders of a free, independent press worldwide.