Novaya Gazeta Europe

What Novaya Gazeta Europe does

Novaya Gazeta Europe is an independent, reader-funded Russian-language digital media outlet established in 2022 as the exile continuation of Russia's Novaya Gazeta following the post-invasion crackdown on independent press. Headquartered in Riga, Latvia, it serves Russian-speaking audiences both inside Russia (via VPN and alternative access) and across the global diaspora, operating as a digital-first platform with no paywall and no advertising. The publication is led by chief editor and co-founder Kirill Martynov and employs 51–100 staff.

The core product is the novayagazeta.eu website, a web-based publishing platform delivering news, investigative reporting, reportage, video, podcasts, data journalism, scrollytelling, photo essays, and analytical content in Russian with partial English coverage. The technology stack is conventional: Google Analytics and Fundraise Up for analytics and fundraising, with content distribution across Telegram, YouTube, X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, plus four editorial newsletters (Weekly Front Page, Undesirable, Zekletter, Aiz un ārpus robežas). Editorial output runs at approximately 1,066 materials per quarter, including 331 featured stories, 11 investigations, 23 videos, and 8 data-driven pieces.

The business model is purely donation- and subscription-driven. The publication does not charge for content access and runs no advertising; revenue is generated through voluntary one-time and recurring monthly donations at €10, €25, and €50 tiers, processed via cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and a notably broad set of cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether TRC20, USDC, Monero, Bitcoin Cash). A separate Swiss membership association, Friends of Novaya Gazeta Europe (Fonge), provides additional donor infrastructure, and branded merchandise is sold through shop.novayagazeta.eu. The publication is designated as an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government, which both constrains its domestic reach and reinforces its positioning as one of the few remaining sources of independent Russian-language journalism.

Name

Novaya Gazeta Europe

Legal name

Novaya Gazeta Europe (Новая газета Европа)

Website

https://novayagazeta.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Novaya Gazeta Europe is an independent, reader-funded Russian-language digital media outlet, founded in 2022 in exile from Russia's Novaya Gazeta. It serves Russian-speaking audiences in Russia and the global diaspora with uncensored investigative journalism, podcasts, and newsletters via a donation-supported digital platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital News Media

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative/Independent Newsweeklies & Opinion Press (MPAJADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multilingual/Diaspora News Channels (MPABAIAJ), News & Content Aggregation Portals (BPAMAAAI)

Keywords

• Independent journalism
• Investigative reporting
• Russian-language news
• Digital news media
• Exile media

Headquarters

HQ city

Riga

HQ country

Latvia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Reader Donations and Subscriptions: One-time and recurring donations from readers via credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether TRC20, USDC, Monero, Bitcoin Cash). The site also offers monthly subscription tiers at €10, €25, and €50. The publication emphasizes reader support as the primary funding mechanism in lieu of advertising revenue blocked by the Russian government.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Novaya Gazeta Europe is an independent Russian-language digital media outlet that publishes uncensored news, investigative journalism, political analysis, war coverage, and cultural commentary for Russian-speaking audiences. Operating from exile in Europe since 2022, it distributes free content through its website, social media channels, email newsletters, and podcasts, funded primarily by reader donations and recurring subscriptions.

Product overview

Novaya Gazeta Europe operates as a unified digital media platform providing independent Russian-language journalism through its primary website novayagazeta.eu, which serves as the core product integrating multiple content formats. The publication offers text-based news, investigations, reportage, and analytical content alongside video products (including the 'Ужасные новости' weekly commentary series and 'Ты как?' podcast), audio podcasts ('Подкасты'), and newsletter subscriptions. Reader support is enabled through a dedicated donation platform supporting multiple payment methods including cryptocurrency. The organization positions itself as a continuation of the original Novaya Gazeta following the crackdown on press freedom in Russia after 2022.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ужасные новости (Terrible News): Weekly news video program with chief editor Kirill Martynov providing commentary on major events
• Ты как? (How Are You?)
• Успеть на переход (Make the Transition)
• Поживем — увидим (We'll See)
• Что нового? (What's New?)

Products and services

• Novaya Gazeta Europe website (novayagazeta.eu) The primary digital news platform of Novaya Gazeta Europe, providing independent Russian-language journalism including news articles, investigations, reportage, video content, photo essays, scrollytelling, podcasts, opinions, interviews, analytics, explainers, and profiles across topics such as politics, economics, society, culture, war in Ukraine, and Russia without censorship. Targeted at Russian-speaking readers worldwide.
• Email newsletters Email newsletter subscriptions including 'Первая полоса' (Weekly Front Page), 'Undesirable', 'Зеклеттер' (Zekletter), and 'Aiz un ārpus robežas' providing regular content updates to subscribers. Targeted at readers who want curated periodic digests of independent Russian-language journalism.
• Donation and subscription platform Crowdfunding and donation functionality enabling readers to support the publication through bank cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, USDC, Monero, Bitcoin Cash), with one-time or monthly subscription options. Targeted at readers worldwide who wish to financially support independent Russian-language journalism.
• Ты как? (How Are You?) Podcast Video podcast series featuring conversations about psychological topics, including discussions on handling anger and aggression during wartime. Targeted at Russian-speaking audiences interested in psychology and social topics.
• Ужасные новости (Terrible News) Video Series Weekly video news commentary series hosted by editor-in-chief Kirill Martynov covering the main events of the week with analysis and commentary. Targeted at Russian-speaking audiences seeking editorial video analysis of current events.
• Подкасты (Podcasts) Audio podcast content including thematic series such as 'Успеть на переход' (Transition series), 'Поживем — увидим' (We'll See), and topic-specific podcasts on society, culture, and politics. Targeted at Russian-speaking podcast audiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1066 materials published in a single quarter, demonstrating high editorial output

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Friends of Novaya Gazeta Europe (Fonge)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAn association of Swiss citizens who share the publication's journalistic principles and wish to support Russian media in exile. Founded as an additional way to support the publication's work. Members pay membership dues on a separate website (fonge.org).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Verstka: Independent Russian-language news outlet founded by former Novaya Gazeta journalists; direct legacy competitor drawing from the same talent pool and audience.
• Meduza: Latvia-based independent Russian-language news outlet founded in exile; operates a similar donation-driven, digital-first model serving Russian-speaking readers in and outside Russia.
• IStories (iStories): Independent Russian-language investigative journalism outlet based in exile; closest peer on the investigative-reporting axis, also reader-funded.
• TV Rain (Dozhd): Independent Russian TV channel that resumed operations in exile after 2022; directly comparable as a Russian-language independent media brand funded by audience support.
• The Insider: Russia-focused investigative outlet operating from Europe after being labeled 'undesirable'; competes head-to-head for the same investigative-journalism niche and donor base.

Broad incumbents

• Current Time TV: RFE/RL-led multilingual streaming network targeting Russia and surrounding regions; closest peer on the video/streaming side of multilingual Russian-language distribution.
• BBC News Russian: International public broadcaster's Russian-language desk serving Russians in and outside Russia; overlapping audience but operating as part of a global incumbent.
• Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL): Major U.S.-funded international broadcaster with a large Russian Service; competes for the same multilingual/diaspora audience but at much greater scale and as part of a multi-language portfolio.
• Deutsche Welle (DW) Russian: German public international broadcaster with a major Russian-language platform; comparable in audience profile but as part of a broader state-backed international media portfolio.
• Voice of America (VOA) Russian Service: U.S. government-funded international broadcaster providing Russian-language content; serves the same diaspora with overlapping coverage areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/novayagazeta_en
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@novayagazeta_eu
• Facebookfacebook.com/novayaeurope
• Instagraminstagram.com/novayagazeta_eu
• TikToktiktok.com/@novayagazeta_eu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/novaya-gazeta-europe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Novaya Gazeta Europe