Staff said the armed men removed computer hard drives and prevented them from leaving or making phone calls. They said police told them the search was linked to the publication of an article in a local newspaper defined as extremist by authorities.
Documents including a history of political repression in the Soviet Union and a computer-based tour of Stalin-era gulags were taken away, said staff member Yury Rybakov. "All these years of work are now in the hands of the investigators, and we do not know when and in what condition it will be returned," Rybakov said. "This is an act of repression against our organization."
An Investigative Committee spokesman told Interfax that the search was part of an investigation into a local newspaper article. He gave no details.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.