World News

Novaya Gazeta announces closure, citing pressure from Russian authorities

France 24 reports that independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta will close on November 9, citing pressure from authorities.

Updated Oct 30, 2026 · 12:24 UTC4 reports

The short version

Novaya Gazeta announced Friday that it is closing, citing pressure from Russian authorities.[France 24]
Editor-in-Chief Sergei Sokolov said authorities and special services forced the team to end its work, with operations set to stop on November 9.[France 24]
Earlier this month Sokolov was questioned and his home searched in a criminal case involving colleague Oleg Roldugin.[France 24]
The paper is already classed as a foreign agent, and its media license was revoked in 2022.[France 24]

Novaya Gazeta announced it is closing, citing pressure from authorities.[France 24]
Operations and servers are scheduled to shut down on November 9.[France 24]
Sokolov said Russian authorities and special services forced the editorial team to end its work.[France 24]
Novaya Gazeta is classed as a foreign agent by Russian authorities.[France 24]
Authorities revoked the paper's media license in 2022.[France 24]
Earlier this month Sokolov was questioned and authorities searched his home in a criminal case involving colleague Oleg Roldugin.[France 24]
Oleg Roldugin, arrested in April, was charged with unlawful access to computerised information.[France 24]

The claim that authorities forced the closure rests on Sokolov's statement and is not independently verified.[France 24]
Roldugin reportedly pleaded not guilty, according to the state RIA news agency, and the charge was given without details.[France 24]
Whether the November 9 shutdown proceeds as scheduled is not yet known.[France 24]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.