Leading independent Russian newspaper Novaya gazeta, which is edited by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov, says it is suspending operations after receiving official warnings.
The newspaper reported being warned twice by Roskomnadzor, which would have allowed the state communications regulator to pursue closing it down through court action.
"After this we are stopping the release of the newspaper on the website, on (social) networks and on paper -- until the end of the 'special operation on the territory of Ukraine,'" the newspaper said in a statement on March 28.
Russia strictly limits how media can describe events in Ukraine, which it labels a "special military operation." Several other Russian media outlets have already opted for suspending operations rather than face heavy restrictions on what they can report, and the Kremlin has also blocked multiple foreign news outlets.
Last week, Muratov announced he was putting his Nobel Prize medal up for auction to raise funds to help some of the more than 3 million Ukrainians who have fled the country since Russia invaded on February 24.
Muratov shared the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize with Maria Ressa, who co-founded Rappler, a news website critical of the Philippine government.
In related news on March 28, the Russian Justice Ministry added German broadcaster Deustche Welle (DW) to its registry of foreign agents.
DW shut down operations in Russia in early February after Moscow announced it was revoking its accreditation following a move by Berlin that banned broadcasts by Russia's RT DE channel due to the lack of a proper license
