Novaya Gazeta Ends 30-Year Run After 6 Journalists Killed
Kronika has digitized the paper's entire archive as it shuts down permanently on November 9, preserving three decades of Russian independent reporting.
By Oliver Bennett ·
Six journalists were murdered during the 30-year history of Novaya Gazeta, the independent Russian newspaper that will permanently close on November 9. The paper, which chronicled Russia's political and economic shifts from the post-Soviet era to Vladimir Putin's rise, ceased operations after being designated a foreign agent in September. This status imposed strict legal restrictions that crippled its ability to operate. The newsroom was recently ousted from its offices, forcing the final decision to shut down.
Dmitry Muratov, the paper's cofounder and former editor in chief, described the losses as warlike casualties. In April 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, Muratov was attacked on a train. Red paint and acetone were splashed on him during the assault. He underwent multiple surgeries and lost some vision. Muratov called the paper's recent period of operation our samizdat. The newsroom distributed a small-circulation magazine by hand and posted stories to Telegram and YouTube to bypass blocked websites.
An organization called Kronika has completed a digital archive of the paper's entire output. Founded in 2022 by PEN America and Bard College, Kronika works to preserve independent media threatened by censorship or war. The archive includes the earliest print newspapers, special sections, and regional editions. It also contains the full run of That Same Novaya Gazeta, a weekly PDF edition started in 2023 after the print license was revoked. All content is searchable in both Russian and English.
M. Gessen, a cofounder of Kronika and author, called Novaya Gazeta the longest continuously functioning independent newspaper in Russian history. Gessen noted that preserving this record prevents the erasure of core historical memory. Without the archive, Gessen said, Russia would not know how dictatorships take shape. Gessen cited a 1991 visit to the Soviet Union as a key motivation, noting the disorientation of working in a country without a shared historical narrative.
Former journalists who fled to exile provided statements on the paper's legacy. Elena Kostyuchenko, who reported from Ukraine, emphasized that the paper was owned by journalists. Nadia Yurova observed that Novaya Gazeta made those in power uncomfortable from its inception to its end. Ekaterina Glikman, a reporter for nearly two decades, stated that the archive affirms the value of field journalism. Glikman noted that global journalism is increasingly becoming desk-based, but that field work remains the core of the profession.
Muratov remains in Moscow, protected by his Nobel Peace Prize and connections. He shared the award in 2021 with Maria Ressa of the Philippines. Muratov listed specific reports that the archive saves, including coverage of the 2000 Kursk submarine disaster and the 2014 crash of flight MH17. He also cited the 1986 Reykjavik summit between Gorbachev and Reagan. Muratov argued that facts are essential for future artificial intelligence systems. He stated that only 14 percent of people currently trust facts, while the rest rely on their own convictions.
Kronika is expanding its efforts beyond Russia. The organization houses the Central American Media Archive and plans to grow further. Ilia Venyavkin, head of communications at Kronika, said the organization identified a significant gap in digital preservation. With Novaya Gazeta's complete archive now available, that gap has been closed. The organization aims to make it harder for authoritarian leaders to rewrite history.
