At the Moscow offices of the now-silent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, former chief editor Dmitry Muratov spoke exclusively to the BBC about the state of independent journalism in Russia and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Novaya Gazeta, once a flagship for independent journalism exposing human rights abuses and high-level misconduct, has faced severe repression. In 2021, Muratov was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly for his efforts to safeguard freedom of expression. The Nobel Committee noted that six of Novaya Gazeta's journalists have been killed, including Anna Politkovskaya, who reported on the war in Chechnya.

Muratov explained that President Putin issued a decree nationalizing the newspaper's printing presses, and authorities have since blocked access to its website. This reflects a broader crackdown on free speech in Russia that has intensified since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. At that time, Putin framed the invasion as a measure to "ensure the security of Russia."

The conflict has become the bloodiest in Europe since World War II. Despite this, Putin continues to predict victory for Russia. Muratov, however, stated that the Kremlin leader can only "destroy Ukraine, not conquer it," as the war enters its fifth year.

The crackdown extends beyond the media. At least 1,500 people are estimated to be imprisoned for speaking out against current state policy, a figure three times higher than during the Soviet-era KGB. Many opinion leaders have been labeled as 'foreign agents,' 'extremists,' or 'terrorists.'

Among those jailed is Alexei Gorinov, a city councillor imprisoned for "knowingly spreading false information" about the Russian military after opposing the war. Additionally, Pavel Kushnir died in a pre-trial detention center during a hunger strike.

These developments underscore the severe restrictions on dissent and the shrinking space for independent voices in Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Sources