RIA Novosti to be turned into Russia Today international news agency - Putin's decree
MOSCOW. Dec 9 (Interfax) - President Vladimir Putin has given instructions to liquidate FSUE RIA Novosti international news agency and set up FSUE Russia Today international news agency.
A relevant decree entitled "On certain measures to raise the effectiveness of the operations of state-owned mass media" is posted on the presidential website.
In line with the decree, as of the moment of the liquidation of RIA Novosti, the rights of its founder will be transferred to Russia Today agency.
Pursuant to the decree, the news agency will manage the property, including foreign property, used by RIA Novosti for reporting Russian government policies and Russian public life abroad.
Russia Today news agency will have its headquarters at 4 Zubovsky Boulevard in Moscow.
The core business of Russia Today will be "the coverage of Russian state policy and public life in the Russian Federation" for foreign audiences, the decree says.
The same decree liquidates Voice of Russia state-owned broadcasting corporation. Its property will be placed under the management of Russia Today news agency.
Dmitry Kiselyov was appointed General Director of Russia Today news agency.