After 11 years of providing Moscow readers with investigative journalism, irreverent commentary, and sophomoric gags, the English-language newspaper the “The eXile” is closing down after investors fled in the face of a government inspection of the paper’s content.
The alternative tabloid — known for its Gonzo-style journalism on drugs, sex, politics, and the seamier side of Moscow nightlife — announced the closure in a blog posted on its website on June 11.
The paper’s demise, and the investors’ flight, was sparked by a visit on June 6 by inspectors from the Federal Service for Mass Media, Telecommunications, and the Protection of Cultural Heritage.