Support The Moscow Times!

Head of 'Russian World' Foundation Appointed Duma Foreign Affairs Chief

Vyacheslav Nikonov Wikicommons / Government.ru

Revisionist historian Vyacheslav Nikonov is set to be become head of Russia’s parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, the RIA Novosti news agency reported Thursday.

Nikonov currently heads Russian cultural organization Russky Mir, a state-backed group which aims to promote Russian language and culture across the globe.

His previous comments on foreign affairs have often been disparaging toward the West, with Nikonov telling reporters in 2013 that, "The only two episodes when the West viewed Russia positively were in 1917 and 1991, when Russia was disintegrating."

Nikonov's work has seen him promote a “patriotic” version of Russian history in the nation's schools, and serving as the assistant to the head of the KGB in 1991.

Nikonov's grandfather, Vyacheslav Molotov, rose to power as a protégé of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more