Crackdown on The Moscow Times: Russia Declares Independent Newspaper 'Undesirable'

The Russian prosecutor general has labeled The Moscow Times as an 'undesirable organisation,' effectively banning the independent newspaper from operating within Russia. This move comes amid intensified crackdown on critical media. The designation puts Russian collaborators at risk of up to five years in prison and challenges the newspaper's ability to report on the Russian state and its actions, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine.

The Russian prosecutor general's office on Wednesday labeled The Moscow Times, an online newspaper favored by Russia's expatriate community, as an 'undesirable organization.'

This designation is part of a broader crackdown on critical media and opposition figures. It forces the newspaper to cease operations in Russia and threatens collaborators with up to five years in prison.

The measure is harsher than the 'foreign agent' designation applied in November, which involved increased financial scrutiny. The Moscow Times moved its editorial base out of Russia in 2022 due to laws punishing content deemed 'discrediting' to the Russian military and actions in Ukraine.

The publication, which started in 1992, has found its Russian-language site blocked and faces increasing challenges in reporting.

(With inputs from agencies.)