Main Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta forced to suspend publication due to war in Ukraine

Russia’s leading independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, whose editor was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year, said on Monday it was suspending publication until the end of Moscow’s military action in Ukraine.

Editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov said it was a “difficult” decision, indicating it was an effort to “save” the respected publication and avoid a total shutdown.

“For us and, I know, for you, this is a terrible and difficult decision. But we have to save each other for each other,” he said in a statement.

The announcement came more than a month after the start of the Kremlin’s military campaign in pro-Western Ukraine.

“We have received a new warning from Roskomnadzor,” the newspaper said in a statement, referring to Russia’s media regulator.

“We are suspending publication of the newspaper on our website, social media and in print – until the end of the ‘special operation in Ukraine’,” he added.

Co-founded by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993, Novaya Gazeta is the only major newspaper to still criticize President Vladimir Putin and his tactics inside and outside the country.

Earlier Monday, Novaya Gazeta staff learned of an official warning from Roskomnadzor state communications watchdog, its second since last week.

Nadezhda Prusenkova, a spokeswoman for Novaya Gazeta, told AFP the newspaper still did not have a copy of the warning, adding that they learned of the development “from the news”.

If a media outlet receives two warnings from the communications regulator within a year, a court can shut it down.

Last week, Roskomnadzor said Novaya Gazeta failed to mark a nongovernmental organization mentioned in one of its articles as a “foreign agent” under Russian law.

Russia is witnessing an unprecedented crackdown on dissenting voices and independent journalism, which includes labeling nongovernmental organizations and media as “foreign agents” — a label that carries strong pejorative connotations and implies increased government scrutiny .

Novaya Gazeta itself has not been declared a “foreign agent”.

Last year, Muratov was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Maria Ressa of the Philippines for their efforts “to safeguard freedom of expression”.

Last week, Muratov said the newspaper had decided to donate the gold medal to a fund to help Ukrainian refugees.