Russia's last major independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta shuts down after 33 years

Russia's last major independent newspaper critical of the Kremlin, Novaya Gazeta, shut down its Moscow office on Monday after three decades, citing sustained pressure from government officials and security agencies.The newspaper, which has faced mounting restrictions since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, said authorities had forced its editorial team to cease operations.In a statement published on October 30, the newspaper said Russian authorities and security services had "forced our editorial team to cease operations.”“Human rights and freedoms have been abolished in this country, and defending them is now treated as a crime,” the newspaper said, "Elections and elected governing bodies have been effectively dismantled, civil society institutions have been wiped out, freedom of conscience and human dignity have been trampled underfoot.”On Monday, journalists cleared the Moscow office, slowly taking down portraits of six colleagues who were killed for their work.