Security forces who searched the Moscow offices of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta on April 9 have no complaints against the editorial office or the website, the newspaper said in a newsletter to readers.

The search, journalists said, was part of a criminal case in which “questions had arisen” concerning one of the newspaper’s staff members, Oleg Roldugin.

“The whole thing was long and exhausting — 13 hours — but polite. Everyone who was in the office is feeling fine and in good spirits,” the newspaper said.

“Situations like this bring people closer together and give you even more motivation to work. We also got to feel firsthand the support of our friends and colleagues in Russia and around the world, who were worried about us the whole time — and about Oleg Roldugin personally — and did everything they could to help.”

The editorial staff promised to share more details with readers shortly and thanked everyone who had written in to express concern for the journalists. “We really appreciate it, and we want to say: the security forces have no complaints against the editorial office or the website,” the newsletter said.

Security forces searched the Moscow offices of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta on April 9. The search began around noon — officers arrived just before the editorial planning meeting, journalists noted — and lasted more than 13 hours. At the same time, security forces searched the home of the newspaper’s columnist Oleg Roldugin. He was suspected of illegally using personal data, taken in for questioning, and then detained for 48 hours. On April 10, investigators asked a court to order his arrest.