Russia Declares Independent News Outlet 'Moscow Times' as 'Undesirable Organization'

On Wednesday, the Attorney General of Russia labeled the independent media outlet 'Moscow Times' as an 'undesirable organization', effectively banning its activities in the country. According to a statement published on the website of the Attorney General's office, it was stated that 'the aim of this publication's work is to discredit the decisions of the leadership of the Russian Federation in foreign and domestic policy.' The Moscow Times responded that this label is 'not surprising' and vowed to continue its work. The statement noted: 'Our work will become harder. Anyone in Russia who interacts with us in any way is now subject to criminal prosecution. But we will not be silent.' This English-language newspaper was established in 1992 after Russia opened its doors to the outside world following the collapse of the Soviet Union, initially targeting Western migrants as its audience. It was one of the few English-language publications based in Russia that maintained its editorial independence and later opened a Russian-language section. Among its former staff are many prominent journalists, including Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter currently on trial in Russia on espionage charges, which he and his newspaper vehemently deny. After Russia imposed extensive censorship laws shortly after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Moscow Times relocated to the Netherlands. Russian officials had previously labeled this media outlet as a 'foreign agent' and had also blocked its website in Russia. Russian media report that the trial of the detained American journalist is being held 'behind closed doors', and UN experts have described the detention of the American Wall Street Journal journalist by Russia as a 'violation of international law.'