Disappeared Behind Bars: The Ominous Reality of Press Suppression in Putins Russia

When prison authorities announced that Nika Novak would not be available for visits, her friends and family feared the worst. The journalist seemed to have vanished from her penal colony hidden in the depths of Siberia.

For over a week, from late November into early December, Novak, 33, was unaccounted for—until news broke that she was still there.

Despite the absence of communication and Novak’s lack of presence when her lawyer attempted to see her, officials ultimately revealed a surprising update: she had not departed at all.

“Staff simply refused to comment” regarding her disappearance, reported a Telegram channel that provides insights into Novak’s imprisonment.

This incident was perplexing and alarming for those keeping an eye on Novak’s situation.

On a larger scale, it showcased a dark aspect of Russia’s crackdown on independent journalism, where sources indicate that incarcerated journalists often endure particularly harsh treatment due to their profession.

December 25 marks two years since Novak was initially detained under what critics describe as oppressive laws aimed at curtailing free speech. During her imprisonment, she has experienced solitary confinement and shared a cell with a particularly “dangerous” inmate, circumstances that drove her to initiate a hunger strike last fall.

To gain insight into Novak’s imprisonment conditions, The Moscow Times spoke with a prominent expert on the decline of press freedoms in Russia and a previously imprisoned journalist who advocates for her release. They also reviewed previously unpublished correspondence from friends and family.

The accounts reveal a disturbing glimpse into the brutal realities faced by those incarcerated as part of the Kremlin’s efforts to silence independent media.

“The circumstances are dire,” stated Gulnoza Said, the program coordinator for Europe and Central Asia at the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). “Yet we lack any leverage to influence our advocacy efforts with the Russian authorities.”

The invasion of Ukraine did not halt independent journalism in Russia immediately. Many journalists felt a renewed sense of purpose as they witnessed a significant story unfold.

Novak was among those who continued their work. She began her reporting career in Chita, a trans-Siberian stopover located approximately 200 miles from Lake Baikal.

Her views on Russia’s war in Ukraine appeared to vary. As noted by the human rights group Memorial, Novak briefly reported from territories controlled by Russia-supported separatists during 2014-2015. However, in the early months of the full-scale invasion in 2022, she joined RFE/RL’s Russian-language service, Radio Svoboda, known for its critical coverage of the war’s detrimental effects.

Critics have long lamented the deterioration of press freedom under President Vladimir Putin. Nevertheless, independent media outlets—both local and international—managed to operate for a considerable time in post-Soviet Russia.

This changed with the onset of the invasion, when lawmakers rapidly enacted fines and prison terms of up to 15 years for individuals accused of disseminating «false» information about the military.

Fears mounted that journalism had finally been criminalized.

These concerns seemed validated as the government intensified an unprecedented pressure campaign against media workers.

Russian journalists have faced labeling as “foreign agents,” harassment, threats, and arrests, while authorities have imposed severe prison sentences. For example, former defense reporter Ivan Safronov was sentenced to 22 years—the longest sentence given to a journalist since the invasion began.

After her arrest in December 2023, Novak became the first journalist convicted under a new criminal statute related to her work with RFE/RL: “collaboration with a foreign organization on a confidential basis.” She will serve four years in the notoriously harsh Penal Colony No. 11 in the Irkutsk region.

Former inmates have reported that prisoners at this facility are subjected to violence, extortion, and solitary confinement.

RFE/RL condemned Novak’s arrest, asserting that she is wrongfully imprisoned.

“These politically motivated accusations aim to silence reporters and create a chilling effect,” said RFE/RL President Stephen Capus after her sentencing in November 2024.

Overall, CPJ reports that 27 journalists have been imprisoned in Russia since 2022, 15 of whom are Russian nationals. During this same period, the country has dropped nearly 20 spots in the frequently cited Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders.

Russian prisons and penal colonies are well-known for their lack of transparency. Visitations can be limited, and correspondence between inmates and their family members is frequently censored.

On multiple occasions, sources informed The Moscow Times that they were unable to share specific information on record for fear of retribution against the imprisoned journalist.

In Novak’s case, a public Telegram channel periodically updates followers on her situation in Penal Colony No. 11, sharing anecdotes of prison life and her poetry.

It was through this channel that news emerged on November 29 about her being unaccounted for. A post indicated that her lawyer had attempted to visit her but was denied entry. Requests for updates about her status received no response.

“Every minute and every action counts at this moment,” read the post, urging followers to spread the word that Novak might be missing.

Such incidents are not uncommon in Russia and may indicate that a prisoner is being relocated. Supporters of Novak reached out to other women’s facilities but were unable to find her.

Then, as abruptly as the crisis unfolded, it seemed to resolve itself. A few days later, the same Telegram channel announced that Novak’s lawyer had received confirmation she was still in Penal Colony No. 11. Authorities claimed it was merely a miscommunication.

The Moscow Times could not independently verify this narrative. Sources following the case believe there may be more to the situation.

A letter penned by Novak and provided to The Moscow Times, dated November 30, is heavily censored, presumably omitting details of her disappearance.

“Nobody knows [what transpired], and likely we will remain in the dark until she is released and shares her complete story,” remarked Alsu Kurmasheva, an RFE/RL journalist who was previously imprisoned in Russia.

Kurmasheva was released in August 2024 in a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia, along with 23 other journalists and political prisoners. She is now assisting in the advocacy for Novak’s release.

“We demand fair treatment for her and her release,” stated Kurmasheva.

“I empathize with her deeply and share in her suffering,” she continued. “I often found mornings unbearable. I’m sure she feels the same.”

According to Said from CPJ, prisoner exchanges are currently the most viable option for securing the early release of journalists facing political charges, though opportunities remain limited.

“We simply don’t see who those journalists could potentially be exchanged for,” she noted.

The U.S. State Department did not respond to The Moscow Times’ inquiries about concerns regarding press freedom in Russia.

Nonetheless, it seems the administration is aware of the issue. Journalists were part of two significant releases of Belarusian prisoners this autumn following the lifting of sanctions by the Trump administration on Belarus, a strong ally of Moscow.

Said also warned that ongoing efforts by authorities to push users towards state-sanctioned communication platforms could severely threaten advocacy work.

“In 2025 and into 2026, we anticipate a significant decline in our ability to communicate with journalists and sources,” Said stated. “This is extremely concerning, as we observe a growing digital iron curtain.”

For those facing lengthy sentences like Safronov, this trend is particularly alarming.

A source familiar with Safronov’s situation, who requested anonymity due to concerns over retaliation against the imprisoned journalist, indicated that he relies on the strict letter-writing system to stay in touch with the outside world.

Three years into his 22-year sentence, there have been no positive developments in his case. He remains in a high-security prison in Krasnoyarsk and also went missing for several days in 2023.

As for Novak, who serves a comparatively lighter sentence, she remains “mentally resilient” and looks forward to receiving letters in the penal colony, according to Kurmasheva.

She has taken to writing poetry to help process the drastic change in her circumstances.

One poem, a reflection on the silence she has learned, concludes with a line that could be interpreted as a critique of the system that incarcerated her: “You speak and you face the executioners, spreading a bouquet of false accusations.”