Putin dissolves state news agency, tightens grip on Russian media [View all]
Source: Reuters
President Vladimir Putin tightened his control over Russia's media on Monday by dissolving the main state news agency and replacing it with an organization 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.
The head of the new agency to be built from the ashes of RIA Novosti is a conservative news anchor, Dmitry Kiselyov, who once caused outrage by saying the organs of homosexuals should not be used in transplants. Kiselyov has proved a loyal Putin supporter as a television presenter, at times making provocative remarks. In 2010 he said homosexuals should be banned from donating blood or sperm and last year said they should also be banned from donating organs.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/09/us-russia-media-idUSBRE9B80TF20131209
Conservatives win another victory in Moscow. I am a little surprised that Putin seems to be so worried about any opposition to him. He seems to have a solid handle on the levers of power but gets stressed out over any sign of protest.
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