Rossiyskaya Gazeta
Rossiyskaya Gazeta (Российская газета) was established on November 11, 1990, by the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR during the glasnost reforms, shortly before the Soviet Union’s dissolution. The newspaper serves as the official publication of the Russian Federation’s government, replacing Izvestia and Sovetskaya Rossiya after their privatization. Its role is legally mandated by Federal Law N 5-FZ from June 14, 1994, which designates it as the official venue for publishing federal laws, presidential decrees, and government acts. The publication has drawn international criticism, including controversy over its 2007 coverage of the Katyn massacre, where columnist Alexander Sabov questioned Soviet responsibility for the killings. In May 2024, the European Union suspended the newspaper’s broadcasting activities across the EU, citing its role in “supporting Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine” and spreading propaganda. The Council of the European Union stated that Rossiyskaya Gazeta operates “under the permanent direct or indirect control of the leadership of the Russian Federation” and plays an instrumental role in Russia’s information manipulation campaigns.
