Rossiyskaya Gazeta
Rossiyskaya Gazeta, birthed in November 1990 during the glasnost reforms, serves as the Russian government’s official daily newspaper and legal gazette, supplanting Izvestia and Sovetskaya Rossiya in that capacity. Established by the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR, it has grown into one of the largest-circulation newspapers in Russia.
Media assets
Publishing: Rossiyskaya Gazeta
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Rossiyskaya Gazeta remains unequivocally state-owned, with 100 % ownership confirmed by Russian experts as recently as March 2023 and June 2024. The Chief Editor, Vladislav Fronin, has helmed the publication since 2001, having served previously as Deputy Chief Editor.
Operating under federal legislation and presidential decrees (Law No. 5‑FZ of 14 June 1994 and Decrees No. 763 (1996) and No. 963 (1998)), Rossiyskaya Gazeta holds the legal prerogative to publish all constitutional, federal, presidential, and executive acts.
Source of funding and budget
The newspaper’s financial lifeblood stems from two principal sources: advertising revenue and state subsidies. Russian experts consistently estimate that governmental contributions account for over 50 % of Rossiyskaya Gazeta’s expenditures, underscoring its fiscal reliance on the state.
Editorial independence
Given its status, its editorial strategy is intended to relay and reinforce government positions—an aim that reflects its mandate rather than independent journalistic inquiry. To date, no statutory framework or independent oversight mechanism has been identified to safeguard or evaluate editorial autonomy.
August 2025