Ex-head of Novaya Gazeta Dmitry Muratov has left Russia

Former editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta (recognized as an undesirable organization in the Russian Federation) Dmitry Muratov (recognized as a foreign agent in the Russian Federation) left Russia after interrogation in the case against his former deputy Kirill Martynov (recognized as a foreign agent in the Russian Federation). This was reported by law enforcement agencies on December 11.

"The Investigative Committee questioned Muratov as a witness in the case <...>. After that he went abroad," TASS quoted the interlocutor as saying.

It is known that Martynov is accused under part 3 of article 284.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Organization of the activities of a foreign or international non-governmental organization, in respect of which a decision has been made to recognize it as undesirable in the Russian Federation"). A criminal case has been opened against the man, he has been arrested in absentia and put on an international wanted list.

Muratov himself was added to the register of foreign agents by the Ministry of Justice on September 1. It said that he participated in the creation and distribution of materials of other foreign agents and disseminated opinions "aimed at forming a negative attitude towards Russia's foreign and domestic policy." On November 21, the journalist was denied removal from the register of foreign agents. At the time, he said that he "did not understand the essence of the claims." His representatives said they would appeal the court's decision.

Novaya Gazeta's work was suspended in March 2022 after a second warning from Roskomnadzor about the inadmissibility of violating Russian law. The warning was issued in connection with the publication on the website of material mentioning the organization, which is a foreign agent, without the appropriate marking.

In 2023, the Tagansky Court of Moscow fined Novaya Gazeta for two materials in which a linguistic examination found discrediting of the Russian Armed Forces. The court then issued a guilty verdict under part 1 of Article 20.3.3 and imposed a fine of 500,000 rubles.