Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta permanently closes

Novaya Gazeta, one of Russia's last major independent newspapers, has permanently closed after more than 30 years. Staff were evicted from their Moscow office on October 29, 2026. Shortly after, the system that allowed readers to donate money was shut down, leaving the paper with no income. Editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov announced the closure in a video statement. The Russian government had already labelled the outlet a "foreign agent" in September 2026, and police had opened a criminal case against it earlier in the year. A museum dedicated to journalist Anna Politkovskaya, which was based in the same building, will also close. A related publication, Novaya Gazeta Europe, continues to operate from Riga, Latvia.