I wonder where the point of no return was, in this timeline:

Early 2000s: Initial Moves Against Independent Media

2000: Shortly after coming to power, Putin targets NTV, Russia's first independent TV station, known for critical reporting on government corruption and the Chechen War. By 2001, NTV was taken over by Gazprom, a state-controlled energy company, leading to editorial shifts.

2001-2002: ORT (now Channel One) and RTR, Russia's main national channels, become increasingly controlled by the Kremlin, effectively limiting independent television news.

2002: The Moscow Times, an English-language independent newspaper, starts facing economic pressure, while other critical outlets experience difficulties.

Mid-2000s: Tightening Legal and Financial Controls

2004: The Law on NGOs is introduced, targeting NGOs with restrictive regulations, which limits the work of many groups that support independent journalism.

2005: The creation of Russia Today (RT) as a state-run media entity to broadcast pro-Kremlin views internationally, marking a significant investment in state media.

2006: The Law on Extremism is expanded to include provisions that allow authorities to crack down on media outlets critical of the government under the guise of “anti-extremism.”

October 2006: Investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, known for her critical coverage of Chechnya and Putin, is murdered in Moscow, sending a chilling message to independent journalists.

Late 2000s: Rising Pressure and Self-Censorship

2007: The Kremlin consolidates control over Russia’s media landscape by promoting self-censorship among journalists to avoid topics considered sensitive, including corruption and human rights abuses.

2008: Medvedev’s Presidency sees a slight reprieve in rhetoric, but systemic issues continue. Independent voices remain heavily restricted, and financial pressure is applied on media companies that oppose the Kremlin.

2009: Natalia Estemirova, a human rights activist and journalist, is murdered. Her work covered abuses in Chechnya, again highlighting the dangers for those critical of the Kremlin.

Early 2010s: Laws Targeting the Internet and Opposition Media

2011-2012: Anti-Putin protests in Moscow lead to a more aggressive crackdown. Putin’s re-election in 2012 prompts the passing of laws regulating online media and requiring all websites with more than 3,000 daily visitors to register with authorities.

2012: The Foreign Agent Law is enacted, requiring NGOs receiving foreign funding, including media-related organizations, to register as "foreign agents," labeling them as untrustworthy.

2012-2013: Putin’s government establishes Roskomnadzor, an agency responsible for media and internet censorship, effectively blacklisting websites critical of the Kremlin.

Mid-2010s: Expanding Control Over Digital Media

2014: The Crimea Crisis and Ukraine Conflict lead to increased censorship of independent media and tighter controls on internet content. New regulations force bloggers with significant followings to register with the government.

2015: The Yarovaya Law package expands surveillance powers, requiring internet providers to store all Russian communications and make them available to security agencies, deterring online dissent.

2016: Russia passes laws mandating that internet companies store data on Russian citizens within Russia, which enables further control over digital information and potential targeting of opposition voices.

Late 2010s: Repression of Remaining Independent Outlets

2017: Dozhd (TV Rain), one of Russia’s last independent TV channels, faces heavy pressure, leading to its removal from most cable packages and moving entirely online.

2018: The Russian government expands ‘foreign agent’ laws to include individual journalists, further isolating critical voices.

2019: Meduza, a Riga-based independent Russian media outlet, faces increasing pressure, and journalist Ivan Golunov is arrested on dubious drug charges (later released after widespread public outrage).

2020s: Escalation Amidst Domestic Unrest and International Tensions

2020: During the COVID-19 pandemic, laws are passed criminalizing "fake news" about the virus, which are used to target journalists reporting critically on the government’s pandemic response.

2021: Alexei Navalny’s arrest and subsequent protests see authorities cracking down on media outlets that report on the demonstrations, with fines, arrests, and increased censorship.

2021: Major independent media outlets, including Meduza and Proekt, are labeled "foreign agents." Proekt is later declared an "undesirable organization," effectively banning it.

2022: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine results in severe censorship; a new law is passed criminalizing "fake news" about the military, threatening up to 15 years in prison. Many independent outlets, including Echo of Moscow and Novaya Gazeta, either shut down or relocate operations outside Russia.

1. 2023 and Beyond: Full Consolidation of State-Controlled Media

2023: The government blocks access to YouTube and Western social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter), leaving Russian state media as the dominant information source.

2023-2024: New regulations allow for prosecution of anyone criticizing Russian military actions or Putin’s government online, cementing an environment of total censorship and fear.