Izvestia

Izvestia, whose Russian name means roughly “news,” “tidings,” or an official herald bringing information, is a Russian daily broadsheet newspaper founded in Petrograd in February 1917. It emerged during the revolutionary period as a publication of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies and subsequently passed through a series of titles reflecting changes in the Soviet political structure. After the formation of the Soviet Union, it became one of the country’s most important official newspapers. During the Soviet era, Izvestia was associated with the governmental institutions of the USSR, while Pravda functioned as the principal newspaper of the Communist Party. Izvestia published the official views of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet and later the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. Its coverage concentrated on government affairs, foreign relations, legislation, diplomacy, economic policy, and major domestic developments. In that role, it was a central instrument of state communication and official propaganda, although it occupied a somewhat different institutional position from Pravda. The newspaper’s title changed repeatedly between 1917 and 1991. Early names referred to the Petrograd Soviet and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee; later versions identified the publication with the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, the Soviets of Workers’ Deputies, and ultimately the Soviets of People’s Deputies. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the publication adopted the shorter name Izvestia and repositioned itself as a national newspaper of Russia rather than as the formal organ of a Soviet state institution. The post-Soviet newspaper operated within changing ownership structures. It was held by a large business group associated with Vladimir Potanin before a controlling stake was acquired by state-owned Gazprom on 3 June 2005. The newspaper was subsequently incorporated into Gazprom Media. In the same period, the departure of editor-in-chief Raf Shakirov became a prominent press-freedom controversy. Accounts from press organizations and other contemporary reporting linked his resignation to official displeasure over Izvestia’s coverage of the 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis, including the publication of graphic photographs. The episode illustrated the political constraints facing major Russian news organizations. Gazprom Media sold Izvestia to National Media Group in 2008. Under its current ownership, the brand continues as a Russian news organization with print and digital output. Its subject matter includes national politics, international affairs, business, society, culture, sport, and public policy. The newspaper has also maintained supplementary and associated publishing activity, including the former weekend supplement Nedelya. Historically, the Izvestia name was additionally used for an international ice-hockey tournament held from 1969 to 1996. Izvestia has had substantial circulation and institutional reach. Reported circulation was approximately 240,967 copies in 2005, while a 2007 TNS Gallup Media certification placed circulation at approximately 371,000 copies. These figures belong to different periods and measurement contexts and should not be treated as a current circulation estimate. The newspaper remains a recognizable national media brand, but its contemporary editorial identity is frequently discussed in connection with Russia’s state-aligned media environment. In May 2024, the European Union placed Izvestia on its sanctions list, accusing the newspaper of disseminating propaganda. The publication remains active, with its principal digital presence hosted at izvestia.ru.

Izvestia was established in Petrograd in February 1917 amid the political upheaval of the Russian Revolution. Its original title identified it as the publication of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies. As authority moved among revolutionary and Soviet institutions, the newspaper’s formal name changed several times. Between 1917 and 1918 it referred to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Petrograd Soviet; later titles associated it with the Moscow Soviet and the emerging institutions of the Russian Soviet state. Following the creation of the Soviet Union, Izvestia became a principal publication of the central government. From 1923 through 1938, its title referred to the Central Executive Committee of the USSR and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. From 1938 to 1977 it was known as Izvestia of the Soviets of Deputies of the Workers of the USSR, and from 1977 until 1991 as Izvestia of the Soviets of People’s Deputies of the USSR. These successive names reflected constitutional and institutional changes within the Soviet system. In the Soviet media hierarchy, Pravda represented the official Communist Party line, while Izvestia expressed the official position of the state and its governing bodies. The newspaper covered government policy, foreign relations, diplomacy, legislation, economics, and major public events. Its role was not that of an independent opposition publication; it operated as a major channel through which state decisions and approved interpretations of events reached the population. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 ended Izvestia’s formal role as a Soviet governmental organ. The newspaper shortened its name to Izvestia and presented itself as a national newspaper of Russia. Like many major Russian media properties, it then entered a period of ownership and editorial restructuring. It was associated with a holding company linked to businessman Vladimir Potanin before Gazprom acquired a controlling stake on 3 June 2005. Gazprom placed the newspaper within Gazprom Media. A major editorial controversy followed the Beslan school hostage crisis of 2004. Izvestia published extensive coverage, including explicit photographs of the massacre. Raf Shakirov, then editor-in-chief, subsequently resigned. The Committee to Protect Journalists and other accounts reported that government officials objected to the coverage; another explanation was that Potanin feared provoking the Kremlin. The episode became an example frequently cited in discussions of political pressure on Russian journalism. Izvestia was sold by Gazprom Media to National Media Group in 2008. The newspaper continued in print and expanded its online presence through izvestia.ru. Its editorial coverage encompasses Russian politics, international affairs, business, economics, society, culture, sport, and public policy. The brand also has a history of related publishing and sports associations: Nedelya served as a weekend supplement, and the Izvestia Trophy was an international ice-hockey tournament named after the newspaper from 1969 to 1996. The newspaper reported circulation of 240,967 in 2005, while TNS Gallup Media certified circulation of 371,000 copies in 2007. These historical figures indicate the scale of its reach during the post-Soviet period but do not establish present circulation. Izvestia remains an active Russian media brand. Its contemporary reputation is shaped both by its long institutional history and by its position within Russia’s state-aligned media landscape. In May 2024, the European Union sanctioned the newspaper, alleging that it disseminated propaganda.

• 2024

  Added to European Union sanctions list

  [1]Izvestiaen.wikipedia.org

  The European Union sanctioned Izvestia in May 2024, alleging that it spread propaganda.

• 2008

  Acquired by National Media Group

  [1]Izvestiaen.wikipedia.org

  Gazprom Media sold Izvestia to National Media Group.

• 2005

  Gazprom acquires controlling stake

  [1]Izvestiaen.wikipedia.org

  Gazprom purchased a controlling stake in Izvestia on 3 June 2005 and included it in Gazprom Media.

• 1991

  Post-Soviet rebranding

  [1]Izvestiaen.wikipedia.org

  After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the publication adopted the shorter name Izvestia and described itself as a national newspaper of Russia.

• 1977

  Adopts the People’s Deputies title

  [1]Izvestiaen.wikipedia.org

  The newspaper’s formal title changed to Izvestia of the Soviets of People’s Deputies of the USSR.

• 1938

  Title changes to reflect the Soviet deputies system

  [1]Izvestiaen.wikipedia.org

  Izvestia began using a title referring to the Soviets of Deputies of the Workers of the USSR.

• 1923

  Becomes associated with central Soviet institutions

  [1]Izvestiaen.wikipedia.org

  The newspaper adopted a title identifying it with the Central Executive Committee of the USSR and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

• 1917

  Founding in Petrograd

  [1]Izvestiaen.wikipedia.org

  Izvestia was founded in February 1917 as the newspaper of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies.

A long-established Russian national newspaper with origins as an official Soviet governmental publication and a contemporary identity as a state-aligned Russian news outlet.

• Daily newspaper · 1917

  Izvestia daily newspaper

  The core Izvestia product is a Russian-language daily broadsheet newspaper. It covers national politics, government, foreign affairs, business, economics, society, culture, sport, and public policy. During the Soviet period it served as a major official state publication; after 1991 it continued under the Izvestia name as a national Russian newspaper.

• Digital news platform

  Izvestia.ru

  Izvestia.ru is the publication’s online news platform. It extends the newspaper brand into continuously updated digital reporting and presents material across politics, international affairs, business, society, culture, and sport.

• Weekend supplement

  Nedelya

  Nedelya was a weekend supplement associated with Izvestia. It expanded the newspaper’s publishing offer beyond the principal daily edition.

• Sports event brand · 1969

  Izvestia Trophy

  The Izvestia Trophy was an international ice-hockey tournament named after the newspaper. It was held from 1969 to 1996, linking the Izvestia name with a prominent Soviet and later Russian sporting event.

• 2024

  European Union propaganda designation

  The European Union placed Izvestia on its sanctions list in May 2024, accusing the newspaper of disseminating propaganda.

  Source

• 2004

  Beslan coverage and the resignation of Raf Shakirov

  Izvestia’s reporting on the Beslan school hostage crisis included explicit photographs of the massacre. Editor-in-chief Raf Shakirov resigned afterward. Press-freedom reporting attributed the departure to official dissatisfaction with the newspaper’s coverage, while other accounts said the owner feared antagonizing the Kremlin.

  Source

Read more

• 2008

  Sale to National Media GroupM&A

  Background

  Gazprom Media controlled Izvestia after its 2005 acquisition.

  Action taken

  Gazprom Media sold Izvestia to National Media Group.

  Aftermath

  National Media Group became the newspaper’s owner and group affiliation.

  Source

• 2005

  Gazprom Media acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Izvestia was owned by a large holding company associated with Vladimir Potanin before the transaction.

  Action taken

  Gazprom acquired a controlling stake on 3 June 2005 and placed the newspaper within Gazprom Media.

  Aftermath

  The change intensified public discussion about state influence over major Russian media outlets.

  Source

• 1991

  Repositioned as a national Russian newspaperStrategy

  Background

  The dissolution of the Soviet Union ended Izvestia’s formal role as the publication of a Soviet state institution.

  Action taken

  The publication adopted the shorter name Izvestia and presented itself as a national newspaper of Russia.

  Aftermath

  The newspaper continued under new post-Soviet ownership and editorial arrangements.

  Source

1. 1Izvestiaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Izvestia official websiteizvestia.ru