Berlin, April 9, 2026—Russian authorities must immediately release journalist Oleg Roldugin and stop the targeted persecution of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, whose office was searched on Thursday in Moscow, the Committee to Protect Journalists said.
On April 9, law enforcement officers searched Novaya Gazeta’s office as part of a criminal case opened on March 10 under Article 272.1 of Russia’s Criminal Code for alleged “illegal use, transfer or storage of information containing personal data.” On the same day, police in Moscow detained Roldugin, a columnist for the outlet, after searching his home, and took him for questioning in connection with the criminal case.
“The search of Novaya Gazeta’s office in Moscow and the detention of journalist Oleg Roldugin mark the latest escalation in years of pressure exerted by Russian authorities on the media outlet,” said CPJ Chief Programs Officer Carlos Martínez de la Serna. “Officials must immediately release journalist Oleg Roldugin and allow Novaya Gazeta’s staff to work without fear of retaliation.”
Seven hours after the start of the search, the newspaper reported that its lawyers were still not allowed to enter the building. The search continued for at least 12 hours. During that time, more than 10 employees with the media outlet had to remain inside the building and were unable to be contacted.
Roldugin will be detained for at least 48 hours on suspicion of “illegal use and transfer of personal data committed for personal gain by a group of individuals or causing significant damage,” which is punishable by up to six years in prison under Part 3, Article 272.1 of the Criminal Code.
Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said a “group of individuals” had used personal data to “prepare news articles and negative content about Russian citizens.” The ministry did not initially name the outlet but later confirmed to Russian news agency Interfax that it was referring to Novaya Gazeta.
Russian state news agency TASS reported that officers were also checking the outlet for ties to Latvia-based Novaya Gazeta Europe, launched in April 2022 by journalists who had previously worked at the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, many of whom fled following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian authorities banned Novaya Gazeta Europe as “undesirable” in June 2023.
In September 2022, Russian authorities stripped Novaya Gazeta of its print and online licenses. The newspaper has continued to publish articles and videos online.
Roldugin, a cofounder of the now-shuttered independent newspaper Sobesednik, has authored investigations into corruption in the presidential administration.
Since Novaya Gazeta was founded in 1993, at least six of its journalists and contributors have been killed in connection to their work, according to CPJ research. In 2007, CPJ honored Dmitry Muratov, Novaya Gazeta’s editor-in-chief, with its International Press Freedom Award, and in 2021 he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his work.
CPJ emailed a request for comment to the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs but did not immediately receive a response.
This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by CPJ Staff.