Novaya Gazeta editor detained in Moscow after home search
Russian authorities detained Sergei Sokolov, editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, after searching his home and took him to Moscow's Investigative Committee. The newspaper, which Russia labels a foreign agent, said it lost contact with him before an editorial meeting he was due to lead. The detention comes amid strict censorship laws introduced since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Sergei Sokolov, a longtime editor at Novaya Gazeta, was detained after officials searched his residence and brought him to Moscow’s Investigative Committee. The outlet said it could not reach him around midday Thursday, shortly before a meeting he was scheduled to lead, and that legal representation was being arranged.
Novaya Gazeta, once a leading independent Russian newsroom, is officially labeled a foreign agent. Its staff and workspace have shrunk since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a period marked by tighter censorship rules and the departure into exile of many independent journalists.
The detention may deepen uncertainty for Novaya Gazeta’s staff and readers, who could face further disruption to independent reporting. It may also heighten caution among other Russian journalists and outlets operating under censorship rules, potentially pushing more coverage abroad or underground. For the wider public, access to diverse information could narrow, while international observers may see the case as another signal about press conditions in Russia.