How a Russian newspaper survived coups, oligarchs, and the collapse of an empire

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Established in 1990 to provide objective journalism, Nezavisimaya Gazeta has navigated decades of Russian political volatility. From its origins as a project of the Moscow Soviet to its acquisition by powerful oligarchs, the publication has maintained a complex, shifting relationship with the state, balancing critical reporting with a moderate editorial stance.

Founded in August 1990, Nezavisimaya Gazeta was the vision of Vitaly Tretyakov, who sought to emulate the independence of publications like Le Monde. Its debut on December 21, 1990, was a significant event, with 150,000 copies printed on Izvestia’s machinery and an additional 100,000 copies distributed as a French-language supplement. The paper quickly established itself as a voice for the Moscow intelligentsia during the turbulent transition following the Soviet Union's dissolution.

The newspaper's history is marked by intense political friction. In 1991, it faced suppression by the State Committee on the State of Emergency for its opposition to the coup attempt. In defiance, its staff collaborated with other banned outlets to produce the underground samizdat publication Obshchaya Gazeta. By 1992, internal fractures led to the departure of staff members who went on to launch the newspaper Segodnya, and by 1995, the paper underwent a four-month closure before being acquired by Boris Berezovsky as part of his expansive media conglomerate.

The ownership landscape shifted again in 2005 when Konstantin Remchukov and his wife, Yelena, purchased the outlet following Berezovsky's fall from grace. Under Remchukov’s leadership, the paper has occupied a unique middle ground. While it has published critiques regarding the Kremlin’s influence over the Russian Academy of Science and the Central Election Commission, and even challenged the 2014 annexation of Crimea, it remains notably more moderate than radical opposition outlets like Meduza or Novaya Gazeta.

Today, the newspaper functions as a broad platform for political scientists, historians, and art critics. It maintains eight distinct supplements, including the military-focused Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, covering a wide spectrum of societal and cultural issues. Its survival through privatization, ownership changes, and shifting political climates illustrates the precarious nature of independent media in a rapidly evolving state.

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