Russia has launched another state-run, international “media brand” called Sputnik, a name with connotations of the Cold War.
Sputnik, according to a statement, is for people who are “tired of aggressive propaganda promoting a unipolar world and want a different perspective.”
Announcing the launch Monday in Moscow, Dmitry Kiselev, referred to by many as the Kremlin’s propagandist-in-chief, said Sputnik will “provide an alternative interpretation of the world, of course,” adding that “there is demand for this.”
Kiselev, a conservative television anchor who heads the Rossiya Segodnya media outlet created by Putin last year to promote Russia's image abroad, said the outlet would have "news hubs" in 30 cities including Washington, London, Berlin and Paris, as well as the capitals of several former Soviet republics.
Russian news
According to the news release, Sputnik will broadcast in 30 languages, with over 800 hours of radio programming a day, covering over 130 cities and 34 countries by the end of next year. Sputnik will offer news wires, a radio station, a website and mobile phone apps.
"In this world, Japan is Japanese, Turkey is Turkish, China is Chinese and Russia is Russian," Kiselev said in a statement. "We are not suggesting that other nations should adopt the Russian way of life. We believe everyone is entitled to live in their own way. Our outlook on the world is rooted in international law.”
Western journalists based in Moscow were quick to react to Sputnik’s creation on Twitter.
Kiselev would not discuss the cost of Sputnik.
Russia has been working hard to repair its international image in the wake of the Ukraine crisis.
In another media development in Russia, American cable news broadcaster, CNN, announced Monday it will no longer be available to Russian cable TV providers starting next year.
According to TASS, no reason for the move was given.
The Voice of America, as well as many other international broadcasters have moved to solely distribute their content in Russia online.
Reuters information contributed to this report.
