Exclusive-Investigative media outlet fleeing Russia to escape crackdown, editor says

Roman Badanin, chief editor of investigative news outlet "Proekt", speaks during an interview with Reuters in New York, U.S., July 27, 2021. Picture taken July 27, 2021. REUTERS/Maria Tsvetkova

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Roman Badanin, chief editor of investigative news outlet Proekt, has left Russia with no plans to return and is evacuating his staff to avoid possible prosecution after Proekt was outlawed in a media crackdown, he told Reuters.

Proekt has published a series of deeply researched and unflattering investigations into Russia's ruling elite. Russian authorities declared it an "undesirable" organisation on national security grounds on July 15, effectively banning it.