Independent Russian news outlet stripped of licence

One of the last independent news outlets still publishing inside Russia, Novaya Gazeta, has been stripped of its media licence and effectively banned from operating.

Russia's media watchdog Rozkomnadzor had accused the publication of failing to provide documents related to a change of ownership in 2006, Sky News reports.

Speaking outside court, editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov, a Nobel Peace laureate for his efforts to uphold critical news reporting in Russia, called the ruling "a political hit job, without the slightest legal basis". 

He said the paper would appeal.

The paper suspended operations in Russia in March after being cautioned for violating newly passed laws imposing strict censorship of coverage of the conflict in Ukraine.

Staff have since set up a new spin-off online outlet in Europe - whose publications have also been blocked by Russian authorities.