Human Rights, Justice & Society
Novaya Gazeta editor Sergei Sokolov detained
Russia’s independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta said Thursday that its editor-in-chief, Sergei Sokolov, had been detained and taken to Moscow’s Investigative Committee after a search of his home.
The newspaper said on social media that it lost contact with Sokolov around noon, shortly before an editorial meeting he was due to chair, and that a lawyer was on the way to him.
Russian authorities class Novaya Gazeta as a “foreign agent”. The newspaper’s offices are far smaller than before Moscow’s 2022 offensive in Ukraine, and many independent Russian journalists have gone into exile since Russia introduced strict censorship laws after sending troops to Ukraine.
Update
Novaya Gazeta said it lost contact with Sergei Sokolov around noon Thursday, shortly before an editorial meeting he was due to chair.
The newspaper said a lawyer was on the way to Sokolov.
The item adds context that Novaya Gazeta's offices are far smaller than before Russia's 2022 offensive in Ukraine and that many independent Russian journalists are in exile.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 October 2026 at 11:22:38 UTC.
Update
Novaya Gazeta identified the detained editor as editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov.
The newspaper said Sokolov was taken to the Investigative Committee after a search of his home.
Russia has labelled Novaya Gazeta a foreign agent.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 October 2026 at 11:05:37 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The item does not state the reason for Sokolov’s detention or interrogation.
No response from Russian authorities is included.
Source
AFP news report published on .