In Photos: Novaya Gazeta Bids Farewell to Legendary Office After Closure
Novaya Gazeta, Russia’s oldest independent newspaper, moved out of the office where its journalists have worked for the past 30 years on Monday.
The paper’s employees bid farewell at the entrance, promising to return as soon as Russia “wakes up.”
Portraits of Novaya Gazeta journalists who were killed over the course of the newsroom’s existence — including investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya — were also taken down.
“We are at a point where the part of the Constitution on citizens’ political and civil rights has effectively ceased to function,” former editor-in-chief and Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov told a crowd that had gathered outside the office.
“It’s been two years and two months now, and not a single political prisoner has been released. I’ll say this right away: I’m not counting on the government. I’m counting only on you and me,” he continued.
Novaya Gazeta announced on Oct. 30 that it would shut down, saying state pressure made it impossible to go on.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the paper’s closure a “normal, routine process.”
The paper suspended print publication after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but continued to operate in Russia.
The paper’s employees bid farewell at the entrance, promising to return as soon as Russia “wakes up.”
Portraits of Novaya Gazeta journalists who were killed over the course of the newsroom’s existence — including investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya — were also taken down.
“We are at a point where the part of the Constitution on citizens’ political and civil rights has effectively ceased to function,” former editor-in-chief and Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov told a crowd that had gathered outside the office.
“It’s been two years and two months now, and not a single political prisoner has been released. I’ll say this right away: I’m not counting on the government. I’m counting only on you and me,” he continued.
Novaya Gazeta announced on Oct. 30 that it would shut down, saying state pressure made it impossible to go on.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the paper’s closure a “normal, routine process.”
The paper suspended print publication after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but continued to operate in Russia.
Novaya Gazeta staff pose with a flag outside the office.
REUTERS / Ramil Sitdikov
Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov collects prints in the office as the newspaper shuts down.
REUTERS / Ramil Sitdikov
A man packs a chair in Novaya Gazeta's office.
REUTERS / Ramil Sitdikov
Novaya Gazeta staff hold their final editorial meeting in the office.
REUTERS / Ramil Sitdikov
Sergei Sokolov, editor-in-chief of the Novaya Gazeta daily, collects portraits of slain journalists from the offices as the newspaper closes down.
Tatyana Makeyeva / AFP
Former editor-in-chief and Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov Dmitry Muratov walks through Novaya Gazeta's office.
REUTERS / Ramil Sitdikov
Slain investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who worked for the paper, adorns the cover of an issue of Novaya Gazeta.
REUTERS / Ramil Sitdikov
Sokolov watches on as his colleague Ivan Zhilin hangs a poster reading "Novaya Gazeta lived here."
REUTERS / Ramil Sitdikov
Muratov holds a poster in support of jailed reporters outside the outlet's office.
REUTERS / Ramil Sitdikov
People react in front of a poster that says "Novaya Gazeta lived here."
REUTERS / Ramil Sitdikov
Muratov stands in front of a poster reading "Novaya Gazeta lived here."
REUTERS / Ramil Sitdikov
