The Last Texts
Texts by independent journalists after which they were killed or their publications were shut down.
Lev Rubinstein for the last issue of «Itogi»
The text by Lev Rubinstein in the final issue of the independent magazine Itogi (2001) about how NTV journalists themselves helped the authorities shut down the channel.
On the night of April 14, 2001, a takeover took place at the NTV television channel. In the months prior, following the arrival of the new president, Vladimir Putin, pressure on the company from the authorities had intensified. In the spring of 2001, NTV journalists organized a series of rallies in defense of independent media — one of them drew nearly 30,000 people.
However, on the night of April 14, Alfred Koch, CEO of Gazprom-Media Holding, took control of the channel, and businessman Boris Jordan replaced Yevgeny Kiselyov as CEO. Just three days later, on April 17, 2001, the Itogi editorial team was denied access to their offices and subsequently informed that their positions had been eliminated.
Yuri Shchekochikhin’s last investigation — most likely, he was poisoned for it
Yuri Shchekochikhin was a Novaya Gazeta journalist known for his high-profile investigative work. He wrote about corruption, the activities of Russia’s security services, apartments explosions, and the ties between business and law enforcement. His final series of articles, published in the spring of 2003, focused on the so-called “Three Whales case” — an investigation into smuggling and corruption within the FSB.
On July 3, 2003, Shchekochikhin died in Moscow at the age of 53 after a sudden and severe illness. Russian investigators listed Lyell’s syndrome as the cause of death, but an independent examination in London found traces of thallium — a highly toxic metal commonly used in poisonings. The journalist had received repeated threats, and shortly before his death, he was scheduled to travel to Washington to exchange documents related to the case with U.S. law enforcement officials.
The investigation materials were classified, and the criminal case was closed “for lack of evidence of a crime.” Shchekochikhin’s death was among the first in a series of murders and attacks on Novaya Gazeta journalists, including Igor Domnikov, Anna Politkovskaya, Anastasia Baburova, Natalya Estemirova, and others.
Irina Slavina’s text, published in «Koza.Press» the day before she set herself on fire
Journalist Irina Slavina, editor-in-chief of the Nizhny Novgorod publication KozaPress, committed suicide on October 2, 2020, setting herself on fire outside the Ministry of Internal Affairs building in Nizhny Novgorod. Before her death, she posted a message on her social media account: “Please blame the Russian Federation for my death.” This was due to years of pressure and persecution by the authorities.
Two articles Anna Politkovskaya didn’t finish — she was murdered
Excerpts from Two Unfinished Articles by Anna Politkovskaya.
Anna Politkovskaya was killed on October 7, 2006, in the entrance of her apartment building. She was shot several times at close range inside the elevator, and the killer, Rustam Makhmudov, fled the scene by car.
The investigation later identified and convicted several organizers and perpetrators of the crime. However, the person who ordered the murder was never found, and the statute of limitations in the case has since expired.
Anna Politkovskaya was known for her courageous reporting on the wars in Chechnya and her outspoken criticism of the Russian authorities.
The final statement of the independent «Lenta.ru»
Statement by the Editorial Board of Lenta.ru on the Dismissal of Galina Timchenko.
In 2014, amid the annexation of Crimea, Lenta.ru faced severe external pressure from the authorities. Editor-in-chief Galina Timchenko was dismissed, and almost the entire editorial staff resigned in protest. Soon after, Timchenko and her team founded a new independent media outlet — «Meduza».
«Until the war is over» — the statement from «Novaya Gazeta» on suspending its work
On March 28, 2022, after receiving a second warning from Roskomnadzor, the editorial board of Novaya Gazeta announced that it was suspending publication until the end of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
On April 7 of the same year, political editor Kirill Martynov announced the launch of a new publication — Novaya Gazeta. Europe, registered in Latvia.
Later, on July 28, 2022, Roskomnadzor petitioned the Basmanny Court of Moscow to revoke Novaya Gazeta’s registration certificate, and on September 5, the court granted the request.
Five years in prison for a text — the article for which Mikhail Afanasyev was charged
The Article That Led to Criminal Charges Against Mikhail Afanasyev, Editor-in-Chief of Novy Fokus.
Mikhail Afanasyev became the first Russian journalist to be convicted of spreading “fake news” about the Russian army using his official position. In August 2023, he was sentenced to five and a half years in prison.
