It was the last independent newspaper in Russia, and a major symbol of the struggle for freedom of expression: Novaya Gazeta, founded by Anna Poltikovskaia and other journalists killed for doing their job. Its leaders deemed it too dangerous to continue their work, while a new law on the media punishes 15 years in prison for any dissemination of information “lies”, that is, not aligned with the Kremlin’s discourse on the war. The newspaper announced at the end of March that it would suspend its online and paper publications.
If part of the team stayed on the spot, another fled to create a new media, legally independent: Novaia Gazeta Europe has already started publishing articles, broadcasts on Russian and international news, mainly on social networks.
Приглашение в Европу!
28 Марта 2022 «Новая газета» была вынуждена приостановить выход, Второй раз в Нашей истории и впервые с 1995 года. В этот раз — из-за репрессивных действий властей и военной цензуры.
— Новая газета. Европа (@novayagazeta_eu) April 7, 2022
In Russia, Novaya Gazeta represented more than 3 million views on the net every day. His little brother, Novaia Gazeta Europe, based in Riga in Latvia, it already has 100,000 loyal readers, via Telegram messaging, and a presence on social networks, and in particular on YouTube. The website is in preparation and displays a countdown on the home page: online launch scheduled for Wednesday 20 April. At the head of Novaia Gazeta Europethe Russian journalist Kirill Martinov. “The situation is simple. We need to start working again as soon as possible to give correct information. Because, in the current serious circumstances, the Russians need this information. We have to give them.”
“Obviously, it is not possible to work as a freelance journalist in Russiadetails Kirill Martinov. Our journalism is therefore between, on the one hand, an ‘undercover operation’, like spies; and on the other hand, to succeed in transmitting this information to the Russians, we look like a digital start-up, able to fight against censorship on the Internet.”
In the team today, about thirty journalists in exile. To rebuild an editorial office and have the means to work, they are supported by JX Fund, a support fund for journalists in exile launched among others by Reporters Without Borders, of which Pauline Ades Mevel is the spokesperson. “The funds collected will be used by these journalists to work, buy equipment, land, start investigating, as they would in any newsroom.” To support Novaya Gazeta and two other independent Russian media, 1.5 million euros have already been raised.