On 13 September 2024, Russia’s Ministry of Justice designated the publisher of Russian newspaper Sobesednik as a “foreign agent”, Russian media reported quoting a statement by the ministry. According to Russian authorities, Sobesednik disseminated “false information” about Russian officials and “fake news” intended to create a “negative image of the Russian army”. The newspaper was also accused of opposing Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and disseminating content by other “foreign agents”.
On September 17, the publisher of Sobesednik said that the newspaper would cease all publications due to the designation of its legal entity as a “foreign agent”. This was reported by independent outlet SotaVision which quoted Sobesednik journalist Elena Milchanovska.
The publishing house will challenge the inclusion of Sobesednik-Media in the register of “foreign agents,” the journalist added.
According to Milchanovska, all publications by Sobesednik Media will be suspended for “at least 2-3 months”. The websites and social networks of these publications will also not be updated during this period.
Sobesednik, which continued publishing in Russia even following the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, had gained fame after printing an edition with a photo of Alexey Navalny on the day of the deceased opposition leader’s funeral.
UPDATE: On 25 November 2024, Russian media reported that a court in Moscow had withdrawn Sobesednik’s publishing license. Roskomnadzor, Russia’s internet censorship agency, earlier blocked the newspaper’s website.