Russia Silences Another Publication: Novaya Gazeta Magazine

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This content was produced in Russia, where law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine.

MOSCOW, Sept 6 (Reuters) – A day after banning one of Russia’s last independent newspapers, Novaya Gazeta, a Moscow court on Tuesday revoked the license of its sister magazine, founded just two months ago.

Novaya Gazeta suspended publication in Russia in March after being warned for breaking new laws censoring coverage of the conflict in Ukraine, and its license was revoked after media watchdog Rozkomnadzor accused it of not having correctly documented a change of ownership in 2006. read More

On Tuesday, the same Basmanny District Court revoked the license of “No” (“But”), due to his non-appearance from 2009, when he was registered, until 2022.

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“Why did Roskomnadzor go to court only after the magazine was printed?” said Novaya Gazeta lawyer Yaroslav Kozheurov.

“It is absolutely clear that the appeal to the court is not because the magazine has not been published, but because the magazine has started to appear.”

Novaya Gazeta, a stalwart of the Russian media scene since its founding in 1993 with Nobel Peace Prize money from late Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, had carved out a niche for itself as Russia’s main investigative outlet even then. freedom of the press was curtailed.

President Vladimir Putin’s two-decade-long crackdown has ensured that all Russian media now closely toe the Kremlin line, and critical opinions are, for all intents and purposes, only accessible to those who can evade government barriers. to access online content published abroad.

Three print issues of “No” have been published since July, but Roskomnadzor blocked the magazine’s website less than a week after its creation.

A Novaya Gazeta online newspaper published abroad was also blocked in Russia.

Novaya Gazeta editor Dmitry Muratov, himself a Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his work in favor of press freedom, remains in Russia and led the funeral procession of Gorbachev, his financial backer, on Saturday and friend.