Novaya Gazeta Closure on November 9, 2026.

When we talk about the war in Ukraine, the focus is rightfully on the Ukrainian people and the devastation Russia has inflicted on the country. Russia is the aggressor, and what its government has done to Ukraine is completely inhumane and illegal. However, there is another side of this war that I think deserves more attention: how the Russian government is affecting its own people.

The Russian people are not necessarily in support of what their government is doing in Ukraine. Yet, this is not something we often see represented in the media. There is a reason for that. In Russia, speaking out against the government can mean being thrown in jail, threatened, facing expensive fines, or putting yourself in an incredibly dangerous situation. There is widespread censorship, and the Russian government has made it increasingly difficult for its citizens to exercise their right to free speech. The war in Ukraine is not just affecting Ukrainians. It is also affecting the lives of Russians who are trying to speak out against their own government.

One of the clearest examples of this is Novaya Gazeta, one of Russia's best-known independent media outlets, which will officially cease operations on November 9, 2026. Its former editor-in-chief, Dmitry Muratov, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for his efforts to safeguard freedom of expression. Since the beginning of the war, the newspaper has faced increasing pressure from Russian authorities, including losing its newsroom, its donation platforms, and its legal right to publish.

Founded in 1993, Novaya Gazeta was established with financial support from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The newspaper became known for its investigative reporting on corruption, human rights abuses, and social issues. Over the years, six of its colleagues were murdered for carrying out their professional and civic duties, including Anna Politkovskaya, who was shot and killed in the stairwell of her Moscow apartment building in 2006.

This is not something that began with the war against Ukraine. For decades, the Russian government has attempted to discourage and silence citizens who speak out against its leadership and expose human rights abuses taking place throughout the country. However, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 made independent reporting increasingly difficult and further dismantled an already restricted Russian media landscape.

Novaya Gazeta was among the last major independent newspapers still operating in Russia. Following the invasion, the Kremlin introduced strict censorship laws that restricted how media outlets could report on the war. Publications were pressured to follow the government's official narrative, including referring to the invasion as a "special military operation" rather than calling it what it actually is: a war. Reporting that contradicted the government's version of events could result in criminal charges, fines, and imprisonment.

As a result of these restrictions, Novaya Gazeta suspended its publication in Russia in March 2022 following repeated warnings from Russian media regulators. Its website was also blocked in Russia. In September of that year, a Moscow court revoked the newspaper's media registration, further preventing it from operating as an independent publication inside the country. Despite these restrictions, the newspaper continued trying to reach readers through other formats and online reporting. However, the pressure did not stop. Many of its journalists left Russia, with some forced into exile because of the government's hostility toward their reporting. Although the publication continued its work, the threats, legal challenges, and pressure from Russian authorities only intensified.

It is inspiring that Novaya Gazeta fought so hard to remain accessible to readers despite the constant pressure from the Russian government. Its journalists continued trying to report independently, even when doing so meant putting their own safety and livelihoods at risk. But now, that effort is coming to an end.

In 2026, the pressure escalated further. On April 9, investigators searched the newspaper's newsroom, and investigative journalist Oleg Roldugin was arrested in connection with allegations involving the unlawful collection and use of personal information. He was subsequently placed under house arrest while awaiting trial. On October 15, authorities also searched the home of editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov and questioned him in connection with the investigation. He was released without charges being filed against him.

The newspaper faced additional pressure in September 2026, when Russian authorities designated its editorial team as foreign agents. This designation, combined with the loss of its donation system and the order to vacate its Moscow newsroom, made it increasingly difficult for the publication to continue operating. On October 30, Novaya Gazeta announced that it would cease operations on November 9, 2026. The newspaper plans to publish one final issue before shutting down its servers and leaving its Moscow office.

It is important to distinguish between the Moscow-based Novaya Gazeta and its separate exile publication, Novaya Gazeta Europe, which operates out of Riga, Latvia. The latter was established by journalists who left Russia following the invasion and is an independent publication. It has not announced plans to close, although Russian authorities have designated it an undesirable organization.

I want to raise awareness of what is happening to journalists in Russia because their stories deserve to be heard. These are people who are trying to report the truth, expose corruption, document human rights abuses, and give a voice to those who might otherwise go unheard. Yet, the Russian government continues to make that work more difficult, dangerous, and, ultimately, impossible.

We cannot talk about the war in Ukraine without also acknowledging what is happening inside Russia. Condemning the Russian government's invasion does not mean assuming that every Russian citizen supports it. There are people living in Russia who disagree with their government's actions, who oppose the war, and who want to exercise their basic right to speak freely. But they are living under a government that has made doing so increasingly dangerous.

The closure of Novaya Gazeta is more than the loss of an independent newspaper. It represents another step toward silencing the voices of people who want their government held accountable. And when a government works so hard to prevent its own citizens from speaking, we should be paying attention.