Izvestia

Izvestia was the former organ of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USS.R., which echoed the views of the government.

Izvestia was founded in Petrograd on February (O.S.), 1917, it was originally known as “News of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers Deputies” and since after March 2, issue No. 3, in the same year it became the organ of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies. After the First All-Russian Congress of Soviets established the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet of Workers' Deputies, the newspaper became the organ of the Central Executive Committee and from August 1, 1917, issue No. 132, it was published under the name “News of the Central Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies”. It was the representatives of the Socialist Revolutionary Party and Menshevik Union, which was then in the majority in the Executive Committee, who decided the political direction of the newspaper.

After the October Revolution, Izvestia came under the leadership of the Bolsheviks. After the second Soviet Congress, on October 27, 1917, the newspaper changed its editorial board and became the official organ of the Soviet regime. In March 1918, Izvestia’s main office was moved to Moscow. Since after July 14, 1923, Izvestia became the organ of the Central Executive Committee of the USS.R. and the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. Since after January 1926, 1938, the newspaper was renamed as “News of the Councils of Working People’s Deputies of the USS.R.”. In 1971, the newspaper had a circulation of 8.5 million copies, with a complete communication network in the USS.R. and was simultaneously printed in 42 cities.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, Izvestia became the focus of competition among political and financial groups which aimed to control this prestigious newspaper. After a fierce struggle, Izvestia resold 51% of its shares to Gazprombank. The current Izvestia mainly reprints a large amount of news from TASS and foreign news agencies, with less commentary and upholds moderate views.