Ton-M, which was published under the slogan, “We write what other people stay silent about,” had previously fallen victim to government pressure and police raids, Russia’s Khakasiya news agency reported.
Popkov founded the publication after he was stripped of his position on Minusinsk City Council in 2012, when a court found him guilty of beating a child.
The journalist maintained his innocence, claiming that the case was an excuse to remove him from politics.
One journalist has already been killed and three jailed in relation to their work in Russia this year, according to Reporters Without Borders. Nikolai Andrushchenko, a reporter for Novy Peterburg was killed on April 19, 2017. The 73-year-old passed away after being beaten by unknown attackers.