The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, 1900 to today

Search in Russia, national level, head of government Vladimir Putin

The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.

All filters: country, dates, head of government, sort

14 incidents match this view.

DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
August 4, 2026Russia: law on asset freezes and service denials for exiled "foreign agents", August 2026Russia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Official labelsVladimir PutinSustained (August 4, 2026)
March 29, 2023Russia: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich sentenced to 16 yearsRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Detention and violenceVladimir PutinReversed (August 1, 2024)
February 15, 2023Russia: journalist Maria Ponomarenko is sentenced to six years for reporting on a Mariupol strikeRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Insult and defamation lawsVladimir PutinSustained (February 15, 2023)
September 5, 2022Russia: journalist Ivan Safronov is sentenced to 22 years for treasonRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Secrets and espionage lawsVladimir PutinOngoing (September 5, 2022)
September 5, 2022Russia: a Moscow court suspends Novaya Gazeta's print licenseRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsVladimir PutinSustained (September 5, 2022)
June 16, 2022Russia: entry bans, visa restrictions and bureau closures for foreign correspondentsRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Access bansVladimir PutinSustained (June 16, 2022)
May 18, 2022Russia: CBC/Radio-Canada bureau closed and journalists' visas cancelledRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Expulsion and visa denialVladimir PutinSustained (May 18, 2022)
March 4, 2022Russia: regulator blocks BBC Russian, Deutsche Welle and other outletsRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Shutdowns and blockingVladimir PutinSustained (March 4, 2022)
March 4, 2022Russia criminalizes 'fake' reporting on the military, up to 15 years in prisonRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Insult and defamation lawsVladimir PutinSustained
April 23, 2021Russia: independent outlet Meduza designated a 'foreign agent'Russia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Official labelsVladimir PutinSustained (April 23, 2021)
March 7, 2019Russia: new laws penalize online "fake news" and "disrespecting authorities"Russia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Official labelsVladimir PutinSustained (March 7, 2019)
October 26, 2018Russia: outlet fined $338,000 under the foreign agents lawRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Lawsuits against the pressVladimir PutinOngoing (October 26, 2018)
October 7, 2006Investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya is shot dead in Moscow; a former police officer is later convicted of organizing the killingRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Detention and violenceVladimir PutinUpheld by a court (June 9, 2014)
April 14, 2001State-controlled Gazprom takes formal control of Russia's independent NTV television networkRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Funding and ownership pressureVladimir PutinSustained (April 14, 2001)
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