Roman Badanin, the former top editor of the RBC news website, has been appointed chief editor of Russian television channel Dozhd.
Badanin was fired from RBC in May 2016 amidst allegations that the Kremlin was putting increasing pressure on the news outlet. Chief editor Yelizaveta Osetinskaya, who was also fired, claimed that RBC's work investigating corruption and the Panama Papers scandal had drawn government condemnation.
RBC managers have maintained that the firings were due to disagreements between themselves and the editorial team.
Independent television channel Dozhd has been without an editor since Mikhail Zygar left the position in December 2015 to concentrate on new projects. Speaking to reporters, Badanin said that he was excited to work on new projects strengthening the channel's journalistic content and increasing Dozhd's presence across a range of formats. Badanin is to assume his new position on July 25.
