The cessation of work was announced by editor-in-chief Dmitry Fomintsev. «The information agency «TochkaNews» is ceasing its operations. There is no more journalism in Russia, only propagandists remain!» — Fomintsev wrote on the publication's website.
In January, Fomintsev was detained at the entrance of his house in a criminal case for «insulting believers». The journalist reported that the case was initiated due to posts on his channel. Fomintsev published a photo of Metropolitan Yevgeny of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye and wrote: «A photo with the monkey Metropolitan Zheka during the election campaign — priceless».
Law enforcement conducted a search at the journalist's home and at the «TochkaNews» editorial office. According to Fomintsev, his detention involved an «Orthodox special forces» unit, which usually handles the security of Orthodox events. In July, the Ministry of Internal Affairs declared him wanted. The journalist's parents were summoned for questioning. Fomintsev himself left Russia after the start of the criminal prosecution.
In a comment to It's My City, Fomintsev explained his decision by saying that he was «tired after 20 years» of journalism, and there is no possibility to organize such work remotely either.