Russia adds Novaya Gazeta to foreign agents registry

September 4, 2026 at 09:20 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Russia's Justice Ministry on Friday added Novaya Gazeta to its foreign agents registry. The ministry cited the outlet's anti-war stance and alleged spreading of false information about Russian authorities. The move follows years of pressure on the newspaper, including a 2022 suspension and an April 2026 raid.

Key Facts

Russia's Justice Ministry added Novaya Gazeta to the foreign agents registry on Friday, September 4.
The ministry also listed the journal Istoricheskaya Ekspertiza, poet Sergei Leibgrad, bioinformatician Tatyana Tatarinova, and writer Felix Sandalov.
Novaya Gazeta editor Dmitry Muratov won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021.
In April 2026, police searched Novaya Gazeta's Moscow office and detained columnist Oleg Roldugin.
The newspaper suspended publication in March 2022 after two warnings from Roskomnadzor.

Registry Additions

Russia's Justice Ministry added Novaya Gazeta to the foreign agents registry on Friday, September 4. The ministry cited the outlet's anti-war stance, contacts with other foreign agents, and alleged spreading of false information about Russian authorities and the electoral system. The same list included the journal Istoricheskaya Ekspertiza, poet Sergei Leibgrad, bioinformatician Tatyana Tatarinova, and writer Felix Sandalov.

Novaya Gazeta Background

Novaya Gazeta has operated since 1993 and gained prominence for investigations into corruption, human rights violations, and war crimes. Editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for defending freedom of expression. Journalist Anna Politkovskaya, known for covering the war in Chechnya, was killed in 2006.

Pressure on the Newspaper

After the invasion of Ukraine, Russian authorities tightened restrictions on Novaya Gazeta. In March 2022, the editorial board suspended publication after two warnings from Roskomnadzor over missing foreign agent labels. In September 2022, a court revoked the print edition's registration at the agency's request. On April 9, 2026, security forces conducted a multi-hour search of the Moscow office, seizing documents and equipment and questioning staff. The same day, columnist Oleg Roldugin was detained over alleged illegal handling of personal data for mercenary motives.