On 28 June 2023, the Russian Prosecutor-General’s office designated Novaya Gazeta Europe, a leading independent Russian media outlet, as an “undesirable organization”.
Authorities claimed that Novaya Gazeta Europe “created and disseminated tendentious informational materials harming the interests of Russia”. Authorities also accused the outlet of disseminating “false information” on human rights violations in the country, as well as allegedly spreading “fake news” on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Russian media are forbidden from reporting on based on any sources other than the Russian Ministry of Defence.
As a result of the decision, actions that authorities interpret as “participating” in the activities of Novaya Gazeta Europe have become illegal. This includes not only authoring publications or otherwise working for the outlet, but also, as the law’s application has recently shown, reader interactions with Novaya Gazeta Europe’s articles, such as liking or sharing posts by the outlet on social media.