Prominent Russian newspaper shuts down under pressure from authorities

For the last three decades, Novaya Gazeta has been one of the most high-profile independent news outlets in Russia.

Now it's shutting down - and it has accused the Russian authorities of the "murder" of a newspaper.

"They've killed us," reads a statement on the Novaya Gazeta website.

"The newspaper is no more. The Russian authorities and Russian special services have forced the paper to stop its work."

Novaya Gazeta has received an eviction order. Crucially, at the same time, the system that had allowed the paper to receive donations from readers was disabled.

That leaves no way to fund the publication.

Novaya Gazeta had developed a reputation for fearless investigative reporting on subjects such as corruption, human rights violations and abuse of power by officials and bureaucrats - dangerous topics in Russia.

The paper said that over time six journalists connected with the paper were killed for "fulfilling their professional and civic duty." Those reporters include Anna Politkovskaya, who was shot dead in the stairwell of her apartment block 20 years ago this month. Among the subjects she had reported on were the wars in Chechnya.

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