Sergei Sokolov, the editor-in-chief of renowned Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, was detained in Moscow on Thursday (Feb 29) for discrediting the military. Citing Novaya Gazeta, a report by the news agency Associated Press said Sokolov was detained by officers from Russia’s Center for Combating Extremism (Center E), and fined 30,000 rubles ($329) in a hearing at a Moscow court.&nbsp;

The newspaper said that the charges were related to material posted on its Telegram channel. It was found in an examination by the authorities to contain “linguistic and psychological signs of verbally discrediting the actions of power structures,” the paper added.

Sokolov became Novaya Gazeta's editor-in-chief in September 2023 after his predecessor, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov was named a “foreign agent” by Russian authorities.

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In a post on X, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Thursday that it protested Sokolov's detention which was further evidence of the draconian censorship in Russia.&nbsp;

"The chief editor of Novaya Gazeta has been fined 30,000 roubles (300 euros) for an article about orphans urged by the Defence Ministry to enlist as soldiers in the war. RSF condemns this latest attack on the media," the RSF added.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Russia</a>: the chief editor of <a href="https://twitter.com/novaya_gazeta?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@novaya_gazeta</a> has been fined 30,000 roubles (300 euros) for an article about orphans urged by the Defence Ministry to enlist as soldiers in the war. RSF condemns this latest attack on the media. <a href="https://t.co/njpJEHKTNP">https://t.co/njpJEHKTNP</a>
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The newspaper has been critical of the Kremlin for several years. In September 2022, a court in Moscow revoked the license of the outlet.&nbsp;

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Days after the Ukraine war began on Feb 24, 2022, the Russian parliament approved legislation that outlawed disparagement of the Russian military or the spread of “false information” about the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

As a result, dozens of independent media outlets in Russia were banned. In March 2022, Novaya Gazeta announced that it was suspending its operations for the duration of the conflict.&nbsp;

However, its staff moved overseas and launched a new project called Novaya Gazeta Europe, which has strongly criticised the conflict.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Sergei Sokolov, the editor-in-chief of renowned Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, was detained in Moscow on Thursday (Feb 29) for discrediting the military.

Sergei Sokolov, the editor-in-chief of renowned Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, was detained in Moscow on Thursday (Feb 29) for discrediting the military. Citing Novaya Gazeta, a report by the news agency Associated Press said Sokolov was detained by officers from Russia’s Center for Combating Extremism (Center E), and fined 30,000 rubles ($329) in a hearing at a Moscow court. The newspaper said that the charges were related to material posted on its Telegram channel. It was found in an examination by the authorities to contain “linguistic and psychological signs of verbally discrediting the actions of power structures,” the paper added. Sokolov became Novaya Gazeta's editor-in-chief in September 2023 after his predecessor, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov was named a “foreign agent” by Russian authorities. Also read | Use frozen Russian profits for Ukrainian military, says EU's von der Leyen In a post on X, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Thursday that it protested Sokolov's detention which was further evidence of the draconian censorship in Russia. "The chief editor of Novaya Gazeta has been fined 30,000 roubles (300 euros) for an article about orphans urged by the Defence Ministry to enlist as soldiers in the war. RSF condemns this latest attack on the media," the RSF added. #Russia: the chief editor of @novaya_gazeta has been fined 30,000 roubles (300 euros) for an article about orphans urged by the Defence Ministry to enlist as soldiers in the war. RSF condemns this latest attack on the media. https://t.co/njpJEHKTNP — RSF (@RSF_inter) February 29, 2024 × The newspaper has been critical of the Kremlin for several years. In September 2022, a court in Moscow revoked the license of the outlet. Also watch | Vladimir Putin warns West of 'real' risk of nuclear war × Days after the Ukraine war began on Feb 24, 2022, the Russian parliament approved legislation that outlawed disparagement of the Russian military or the spread of “false information” about the country’s invasion of Ukraine. As a result, dozens of independent media outlets in Russia were banned. In March 2022, Novaya Gazeta announced that it was suspending its operations for the duration of the conflict. However, its staff moved overseas and launched a new project called Novaya Gazeta Europe, which has strongly criticised the conflict. (With inputs from agencies)

Editor of Russia's Novaya Gazeta newspaper detained, fined for 'discrediting military'

Novaya Gazeta is one of Russia's few remaining independent news outlets. However, the Russian court stripped the publication of its media license and banned it from operating.

Russian court strips off Novaya Gazeta of its media license

The media licence for Novaya Gazeta, one of the last independent news organisations still operating in Russia, was revoked on Monday, effectively prohibiting it from continuing to publish.

The publication was charged with failing to provide paperwork pertaining to a change in ownership in 2006 by Russia's media watchdog, Rozkomnadzor.

The judgement was described as "a political hit job, without the slightest legal basis," said editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov in a statement made outside of court. Muratov won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to uphold critical news reporting in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-nick-kyrgios-knocks-defending-champion-daniil-medvedev-out-512947">Russia</a>. The document would appeal, he claimed.

Since its founding in 1993 with funding from late Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's Nobel Peace Prize, Novaya Gazeta has been a pillar of the Russian media landscape. It has established itself as Russia's top investigative outlet even as&nbsp;press freedoms were gradually rolled back.

After receiving a warning for breaking recently approved legislation that strictly censored media coverage of the situation in Ukraine, it stopped operating in Russia in March.

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A second spin-off internet site in Europe has now been established by staff; nevertheless, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/volodymyr-zelensky-claims-ukraine-takes-three-settlements-in-south-and-east-in-counter-offensive-512978">Russian</a> authorities have also prohibited its publishing.

Novaya Gazeta being stripped of its print licence is a further blow to press freedom in Russia, the United Nations said Monday.

"The judgement against Novaya Gazeta is yet another blow to the independence of Russian media," UN Human Rights Office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.

She added that press "activities have been further compromised by legal restrictions and increased state controls imposed following the Russian Federation's attack on Ukraine".

(With inputs from agencies)

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The media licence for Novaya Gazeta, one of the last independent news organisations still operating in Russia, was revoked on Monday, effectively prohibiting it from continuing to publish.

The media licence for Novaya Gazeta, one of the last independent news organisations still operating in Russia, was revoked on Monday, effectively prohibiting it from continuing to publish. The publication was charged with failing to provide paperwork pertaining to a change in ownership in 2006 by Russia's media watchdog, Rozkomnadzor. The judgement was described as "a political hit job, without the slightest legal basis," said editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov in a statement made outside of court. Muratov won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to uphold critical news reporting in Russia. The document would appeal, he claimed. Since its founding in 1993 with funding from late Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's Nobel Peace Prize, Novaya Gazeta has been a pillar of the Russian media landscape. It has established itself as Russia's top investigative outlet even as press freedoms were gradually rolled back. After receiving a warning for breaking recently approved legislation that strictly censored media coverage of the situation in Ukraine, it stopped operating in Russia in March. Also read | Two Russian embassy staff killed in Kabul bombing, confirms Moscow A second spin-off internet site in Europe has now been established by staff; nevertheless, Russian authorities have also prohibited its publishing. Novaya Gazeta being stripped of its print licence is a further blow to press freedom in Russia, the United Nations said Monday. "The judgement against Novaya Gazeta is yet another blow to the independence of Russian media," UN Human Rights Office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement. She added that press "activities have been further compromised by legal restrictions and increased state controls imposed following the Russian Federation's attack on Ukraine". (With inputs from agencies) Also WATCH | Europe Energy Crisis | Sweden, Finland step in to avert Lehman-like situation

Russian court revokes independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta's license

Editors of Russia&#39;s opposition newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, said on Thursday they were planning to give their employees weapons training and arm them with &quot;traumatic&quot; or less lethal weapons to protect themselves against possible attacks.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The decision comes amid a spike in violence against dissenters in Russia, including this week&#39;s attack on a radio journalist who was stabbed in the neck at the offices of the liberal Echo of Moscow radio.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&quot;If the state is not ready to protect us, we will protect ourselves,&quot; Sergei Sokolov, a deputy editor at Russia&#39;s top Opposition newspaper, told AFP.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&quot;When journalists find themselves helpless in the face of lawlessness in the streets and indiscipline of law enforcement agencies there is no other way.&quot;&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Novaya Gazeta editor Dmitry Muratov said on Wednesday that a number of employees would undergo arms training and the newspaper would purchase traumatic weapons.&nbsp;

The use of fire arms is tightly regulated in Russia. The so-called traumatic weapons that use rubber bullets can be used for self-defence, but can also inflict lethal damage.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&quot;I will arm the newsroom,&quot; Muratov said on Echo of Moscow Radio.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&quot;We will also supply journalists with other security means that I don&#39;t want to talk about.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;We will conclude an official agreement with the Russian interior ministry,&quot; he added. &quot;I have no other choice.&quot;&nbsp;

Contacted by AFP, Muratov said he could not provide details of the plan over security concerns.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&quot;Our security experts have asked me to refrain from comments before we take concrete steps,&quot; he said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Pavel Kanygin, a Novaya Gazeta special correspondent, said he was ready to use non-lethal weapons to defend himself.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&quot;I don&#39;t see anything bad in our situation,&quot; he told AFP in written comments, adding that potential criminals may be deterred by the knowledge that Novaya Gazeta reporters carry weapons.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&quot;This too is defence.&quot;&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
President Vladimir Putin&#39;s spokesman said today he saw no reason to provide extra security for journalists.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&quot;Unfortunately, every one of us can become a target of a madman,&quot; Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that Novaya Gazeta was free to adopt any measures as long as they were in line with existing laws.&nbsp;

Over the past two decades Novaya Gazeta has lost several journalists to contract-style killings, including investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya who was gunned down in the entrance to her Moscow apartment in 2006.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Earlier this week Tatyana Felgenhauer, a 32-year-old Echo of Moscow presener, was stabbed in the neck by a mentally unstable man.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Many commentators have blamed the authorities for fomenting hatred against dissenters and creating an atmosphere in which such attacks became possible.

'If the state is not ready to protect us, we will protect ourselves,' Sergei Sokolov, a deputy editor at Novaya Gazeta, said

Editors of Russia's opposition newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, said on Thursday they were planning to give their employees weapons training and arm them with "traumatic" or less lethal weapons to protect themselves against possible attacks. The decision comes amid a spike in violence against dissenters in Russia, including this week's attack on a radio journalist who was stabbed in the neck at the offices of the liberal Echo of Moscow radio. "If the state is not ready to protect us, we will protect ourselves," Sergei Sokolov, a deputy editor at Russia's top Opposition newspaper, told AFP. "When journalists find themselves helpless in the face of lawlessness in the streets and indiscipline of law enforcement agencies there is no other way." Novaya Gazeta editor Dmitry Muratov said on Wednesday that a number of employees would undergo arms training and the newspaper would purchase traumatic weapons. The use of fire arms is tightly regulated in Russia. The so-called traumatic weapons that use rubber bullets can be used for self-defence, but can also inflict lethal damage. "I will arm the newsroom," Muratov said on Echo of Moscow Radio. "We will also supply journalists with other security means that I don't want to talk about." "We will conclude an official agreement with the Russian interior ministry," he added. "I have no other choice." Contacted by AFP, Muratov said he could not provide details of the plan over security concerns. "Our security experts have asked me to refrain from comments before we take concrete steps," he said. Pavel Kanygin, a Novaya Gazeta special correspondent, said he was ready to use non-lethal weapons to defend himself. "I don't see anything bad in our situation," he told AFP in written comments, adding that potential criminals may be deterred by the knowledge that Novaya Gazeta reporters carry weapons. "This too is defence." President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said today he saw no reason to provide extra security for journalists. "Unfortunately, every one of us can become a target of a madman," Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that Novaya Gazeta was free to adopt any measures as long as they were in line with existing laws. Over the past two decades Novaya Gazeta has lost several journalists to contract-style killings, including investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya who was gunned down in the entrance to her Moscow apartment in 2006. Earlier this week Tatyana Felgenhauer, a 32-year-old Echo of Moscow presener, was stabbed in the neck by a mentally unstable man. Many commentators have blamed the authorities for fomenting hatred against dissenters and creating an atmosphere in which such attacks became possible.

Will arm journalists, say Russian newspaper editors after Putin refuses protection

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Editor of Russia's Novaya Gazeta newspaper detained, fined for 'discrediting military'

Russian court strips off Novaya Gazeta of its media license

Russian court revokes independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta's license

Will arm journalists, say Russian newspaper editors after Putin refuses protection