Outlet profile

Izvestia

Russian state-aligned (Kremlin-friendly)

Owned byNational Media Group, a holding controlled through Bank Rossiya. Its key figure is Yuri Kovalchuk, a longtime associate of Vladimir Putin. National Media Group bought a controlling stake from Gazprom-Media in 2008.

FundingMainly advertising and sales revenue plus support from its parent group. The parent is owned by Kremlin-connected businesspeople, and state-linked advertising and subsidies likely play a role. Public figures for the paper's own finances are limited.

On the administrationmixed

Background

Izvestia was founded in 1917 and became the official newspaper of the Soviet government, with a reputation as a serious daily of record. After the USSR collapsed it became a privately owned, relatively independent paper in the 1990s. It was later owned by Vladimir Potanin's holding, which had close ties to the government. State-owned Gazprom took control in 2005 through Gazprom-Media. In 2008 National Media Group, run by Putin associate Yuri Kovalchuk, bought a controlling stake of about 50 percent. Since then, observers have described its editorial line as broadly aligned with the Kremlin, and some press-freedom groups have raised concerns about this. The paper frequently publishes interviews with Russian officials and often relies on anonymous official sources for its reporting on foreign and security policy. Its news pages still carry general news, business and culture content. Its perspective on politics and foreign affairs is best characterized as pro-government.

Sources

Profile compiled 2026-10-08; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

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