The decision comes after a second warning of the Russian telecom supervision service. “Novaïa Gazeta” was a last bastion of the free press still active in Russia.
Le Monde with AFP
The media received a first warning on March 22, then a second. The Russian Independent Journal Novaïa Gazeta announced, Monday, March 28, the suspension of its online publications and paper format until the end of the “military operation” in Ukraine. This decision comes as Russian power accentuates its pressure against critical voices.
In a Press release Posted on the newspaper site, the editor, Dmitry Mouratov, who received in 2021 the Nobel Peace Prize, explains to take this measure after having Received a second warning of the Federal Telecommunication Supervision Service (Roskomnadzor) for breach of a controversial law on “foreign agents”. “There is no other solution. For us, and I know it, for you, it’s a terrible and painful decision. But we have to protect ourselves from each other,” said Mr. Mouratov, in a letter addressed to the readers of the newspaper.
In concrete terms, he is reproached to Novaïa Gazeta for not having clarified that an NGO mentioned in one of its articles was described as “foreign agent” by the Russian authorities, as required by law. .
Many blocked media
The authorities have voted several laws repressing heavy prison sentences what they consider as “false information” on the conflict in Ukraine. The law on “foreign agents” is another weapon used by power against critical organizations or individuals of the Kremlin.
Those who are qualified as “foreign agents” are required to present each other in each of their publications, including on social networks. And, each time, the media that mention them must also specify it.
The prosecutions for breach of this law may have serious consequences. In December, the most respected NGO in Russia, Memorial, which was described as “foreign agent”, was prohibited for having forgotten to clarify this status in some publications.
Since the outbreak of Ukraine’s invasion by Russia, February 24, the sites of many Russian or foreign media have been blocked. Novaïa Gazeta was a last bastion of the free press still active in Russia.
Founded in 1993, Novaïa Gazeta enjoys a great reputation for its surveys on corruption and human rights abuses in Chechnya. This commitment cost six of his collaborators, including the famous journalist Anna Politkovskaya, murdered in 2006.