Novaya Gazeta journalist Oleg Roldugin detained for preparing materials with negative content against Russian citizens
🔸 On the arrest of Oleg Roldugin сообщают RIA News.
🔸 A few minutes earlier, TASS, citing a source in law enforcement agencies, reportedthat the searches at Novaya Gazeta are connected to a criminal case against its columnist Oleg Roldugin (he is also the co-founder of the newspaper "Sobesednik"). This year, Roldugin released investigation about Ruslana Aisultanova, who was an assistant to his nephew Ramzan Kadyrov and became the owner of an expensive penthouse in central Moscow. He has also authored investigations into corruption in the Putin administration, Dmitry Medvedev's property, and the creators of the Max messenger.
🔸 Amid the search of the newspaper's editorial office, the capital's Ministry of Internal Affairs заявило On identifying a "circle of individuals" who accessed "illegal information resources" for personal data. It is emphasized that this was done "while preparing news articles and materials with negative content regarding Russian citizens."
A criminal case was opened on March 10. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in 2025-2026, search queries were made on private personal data storage resources for individuals about whom "articles were subsequently published in Telegram channels."
The agency does not claim that it is specifically Novaya Gazeta that is being discussed.
🔸 The case was opened under Article 272.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation - it appeared In November 2024, she was charged with combating leaks of databases used by investigative journalists. She faces up to 10 years in prison.
🔸 Novaya Gazeta сообщает, that as of 5:00 p.m., investigative actions are ongoing in the editorial office, lawyers have not been allowed in, and there is still no contact with the journalists inside.
🔸 The publication cannot yet confirm or deny the connection between the search and the criminal case against Roldugin. However, it confirms that the columnist's apartment was searched this morning, and he is being questioned by the police. His lawyer is also not allowed to see him.
🔸 Earlier TASS reportedthat Novaya Gazeta is also being investigated for connections to the Anti-War Committee of Russia (which is recognized as terrorist) and Novaya Gazeta Europe (founded by former Novaya Gazeta journalists who left the country; it is recognized as an undesirable organization in Russia).
