The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Actor

Vladimir Putin

Engraving of an official's desk with a signed, sealed document and a pen

Published 2026-09-22. Last reviewed 2026-09-22. 0 sources.

Kind
person
Role
President of Russia
Jurisdiction
Russia

Incidents

DateIncidentRoleStatus
4 August 2026Russia: asset freezes on exiled "foreign agents", Aug 2026orderedin effect
29 March 2023Russia: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich sentenced to 16 yearsotherreversed
15 February 2023Russia: journalist Maria Ponomarenko is sentenced to six years for reporting on a Mariupol strikeotherin effect
5 September 2022Russia: journalist Ivan Safronov is sentenced to 22 years for treasonotherin effect
5 September 2022Russia: a Moscow court suspends Novaya Gazeta's print licenseotherin effect
16 June 2022Russia: entry bans, visa restrictions and bureau closures for foreign correspondentsorderedin effect
18 May 2022Russia: CBC/Radio-Canada bureau closed and journalists' visas cancelledotherin effect
4 March 2022Russia: regulator blocks BBC Russian, Deutsche Welle and other outletsotherin effect
4 March 2022Russia criminalizes 'fake' reporting on the military, up to 15 years in prisonorderedin effect
23 April 2021Russia: independent outlet Meduza designated a 'foreign agent'otherin effect
7 March 2019Russia: new laws penalize online "fake news" and "disrespecting authorities"otherhistorical
26 October 2018Russia: outlet fined $338,000 under the foreign agents lawotherin effect
7 October 2006Investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya is shot dead in Moscow; a former police officer is later convicted of organizing the killingotherhistorical
14 April 2001State-controlled Gazprom takes formal control of Russia's independent NTV television networkotherhistorical

Timeline for Vladimir Putin ยท 14 incidents while head of government