MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin tightened his control over Russia’s media yesterday by dissolving the main state news agency and replacing it with an organisation intended to promote Moscow’s image abroad.
The move to abolish RIA Novosti and create a news agency to be known as “Rossiya Segodnya” (Russia Today) is the second in two weeks strengthening Putin’s hold on the media as he tries to reassert his authority after protests against his rule.
Independent political analyst Pavel Salin said the move was likely a result of a turf wars at the Kremlin and a victory for the hawks as it also sidelines the current RIA Novosti head, Svetlana Mironyuk, who is seen as more liberally-minded.
“I expect a sharp ideological turn now towards much more hawkish reporting under the even closer eye of the Kremlin and directed at the West,” Salin said.
Most Russian media outlets are already loyal to Putin, and opponents get little air time, but the shake-up underlined their importance to Putin keeping power and the Kremlin’s concern about the president’s ratings and image.
“The main focus of ... Rossiya Segodnya is to highlight abroad the state policy and public life of the Russian Federation,” said a decree signed by Putin.
Reuters
