Kommersant Newspaper Overview and Controversies

Kommersant is a Russian business newspaper that has been a prominent voice in Russian media since its founding in 1991.

Its circulation peaked in the early 2000s, with a daily readership of over 100,000.

Kommersant has been known for its in-depth coverage of business and economic news, as well as its investigative reporting on corruption and government scandals.

The newspaper has faced several controversies over the years, including allegations of bias and censorship.

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The history of Kommersant is a fascinating story that spans over three decades. The first issue of the newspaper was released on December 9, 1989, and it was initially published on a weekly basis from January 8, 1990, to September 1992.

Vladimir Yakovlev, a journalist, revived the newspaper and owned it until 1999. During his tenure, he introduced a new format, which he called "journalism of fact", and invited experts from various fields to write articles. This approach was later described by Valery Drannik as "journalism of fact."

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In 1996, Leonid Miloslavsky took over as the general director, and he introduced a team of professional specialists, including Natalia Geverkian, Alexander Kabakov, and Igor Svinarenko. Valery Drannik, who was invited to lead the team, had high praise for his colleagues, saying that Igor Svinarenko wrote what he saw, Alexander Kabakov wrote what he wanted to see, and Valery Panyushkin wrote what he hadn't seen.

The team was disbanded after the economic crisis of 1998, leaving only one special correspondent, Andrei Kolosnikov. Later, in 2009, Valery Drannik praised Kolosnikov's work, saying that there was no one who could write like the team had, and that Kolosnikov was the only one left, making him 20% of the company's capitalization.

Kommersant changed hands several times, being owned by Boris Berezovsky from 1999 to 2006, and then by Badi Patarkatsishvili and Alisher Usmanov. In 2007, Kommersant won the right to publish bankruptcy announcements, which was previously held by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

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The first issue of Kommersant was published on December 9, 1989. It was initially released on a weekly basis from January 8, 1990, to September 1992.

Vladimir Yakovlev revived the newspaper and owned it until 1999. He introduced a new format, inviting specialists from various fields to write articles, which he called "journalism of fact."

Valery Drannikov, who joined the team, described this approach as a significant shift in journalism. Drannikov later praised the work of journalist Andrey Kolosnikov, saying he was 20% of the newspaper's value.

Kommersant changed hands several times, with Boris Berezovsky owning it from 1999 to 2006. He acquired it from Vladimir Yakovlev, who had previously sold it to Berezovsky.

Boris Berezovsky sold the newspaper to Bady Patarkatsishvili in 2006, who unfortunately passed away the following year. The newspaper was then acquired by Alisher Usmanov in 2006.

In 2007, Kommersant won the right to publish bankruptcy announcements, previously held by Rossiyskaya Gazeta. This change was confirmed by the government in 2008.

After a series of changes in ownership, Kommersant continues to be a prominent newspaper in Russia.

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Kommersant journalists have received notable recognition for their work. They are winners of the "Redkollegia" award in December 2017, June 2018, and October 2019.

Their dedication to quality reporting has earned them multiple awards. The journalists' efforts have been acknowledged by the industry.

Here are some of the notable awards they've received:

The European Court of Human Rights has raised concerns about the independence of Kommersant's editorial policy, citing a lack of editorial freedom after Alisher Usmanov took control of the newspaper.

In 2020, a former journalist from Kommersant accused Usmanov of pressuring him to write an article in the newspaper's favor, and later threatened to call him to order.

A number of journalists have left Kommersant, including Ivan Safronov in 2019, and 13 journalists from the newspaper's politics department, which some see as evidence of Usmanov's influence over the newspaper's editorial line.

Kommersant has also been accused of publishing articles that support the Russian government's policies, such as a 2021 article by Dmitry Medvedev that criticized Ukraine's government and was published without discussion or warning.

The European Court of Human Rights' decision to reject Alisher Usmanov's appeal on EU sanctions has sparked controversy. The court's ruling highlighted Usmanov's "especially close ties" with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his support for Russia's destabilization of Ukraine.

Usmanov's influence on the editorial policy of Kommersant is a major concern. The court cited the publication's shift to a pro-Kremlin stance after Usmanov took over, with the editor-in-chief having the power to exert pressure on the editorial team.

Usmanov's ability to influence the editorial line of Kommersant is a worrying sign. The court mentioned the case of Ivan Safronov, a journalist who was fired in 2019, and the departure of 13 journalists from the politics department.

Usmanov's involvement in Kommersant's editorial decisions is not limited to the past. The court noted the publication of an article by Dmitry Medvedev in October 2021, which was accompanied by a pro-Kremlin editorial note. This article was seen as a clear example of Kommersant's support for Russia's actions against Ukraine.

Kommersant's attempts to downplay Usmanov's influence are unconvincing. The court was not swayed by the publication's claims of independence, citing the presence of pro-Kremlin articles and the lack of editorial discussion on sensitive topics.

The court's decision highlights the need for transparency in media ownership. Usmanov's control over Kommersant raises questions about the publication's editorial independence.

Here are some examples of Kommersant's pro-Kremlin stance:

• Publication of an article by Dmitry Medvedev in October 2021, accompanied by a pro-Kremlin editorial note

• Presence of pro-Kremlin articles and lack of editorial discussion on sensitive topics

• Usmanov's ability to exert pressure on the editorial team

• Departure of 13 journalists from the politics department in 2019

• Firing of Ivan Safronov in 2019

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Paid article publishing accusations have been a significant issue for the Russian newspaper Kommerstant. In 2013, an article titled "Student Accuses Navalny's Team of Unpaid Wages" sparked controversy, with many accusing the paper of publishing a paid article. The article's content and title didn't match, and it was published without any comment from Navalny's team.

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The article's author, Mikhail Petrov, had not written for the paper since then, and the publication was seen as a deliberate attempt to discredit Navalny. This incident highlights the risks of paid article publishing and the importance of journalistic integrity.

Some notable examples of paid article publishing accusations against Kommerstant include:

The publication's owner, Alisher Usmanov, has been accused of exerting influence over the paper's editorial line. In 2022, 14 journalists from Kommerstant signed a letter stating that the paper's editorial policy is determined by the editorial team, not by the owner or external influences.

However, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that Usmanov has "especially close ties" with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has supported the Russian government's policies, including those that destabilize Ukraine. This ruling has sparked further controversy and criticism of Kommerstant's editorial policies.

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Kommersant has a significant international presence, with a network of correspondents and bureaus in over 20 countries.

Kommersant's international presence is a result of its expansion into new markets, including Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

The newspaper's website is available in several languages, including English, French, and German, making it accessible to a global audience.

Kommersant has a strong presence in Russia's neighboring countries, with correspondents and bureaus in Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.

Its international coverage includes news from around the world, with a focus on business, politics, and economics.

Kommersant has been a vocal critic of the Ukrainian government, particularly under the leadership of President Viktor Yanukovych.

The opposition in Ukraine has been gaining momentum, with protests and demonstrations taking place across the country, including in Kiev.

Kommersant has reported on the growing frustration among Ukrainians with the government's handling of the economy and corruption.

The protests have been largely peaceful, with many calling for the resignation of President Yanukovych and the establishment of a new government.

Kommersant has also highlighted the role of opposition leaders such as Arseniy Yatsenyuk in organizing the protests and pushing for reform.

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The coverage of events in Ukraine by media outlets from the Kommercsant holdings was often aligned with the official Russian position and lacked balance, according to monitoring by journalist Elena Sherebetys from the Ukrainian online publication "Detector Media".

Journalists from the holdings, such as Yana Sokolovskaya and Maxim Yusin, regularly appeared on Russian federal TV shows, often echoing the views of the Russian authorities.

The Kommercsant newspaper almost stopped publishing interviews with Ukrainian or international officials after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and barely wrote about the war itself.

The newspaper's coverage of a rocket attack on Vinnytsia was minimal, with a brief mention in an online text about the war, citing Ukrainian sources and a statement from Margarita Simonyan about a temporary Nazi outpost in a building.

A similar lack of detail was seen in the newspaper's report on a rocket attack on a residential building in Dnepre, which was described as a "blast" with attribution to Ukrainian authorities.

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In August 2020, a Russian media outlet published a biased article about Alexei Navalny's transportation from Russia to Germany, blaming German doctors for the delay without providing credible sources.

The article was widely criticized by Navalny's supporters and other media outlets, who pointed out that it was inaccurate.

The same media outlet, "Kommerstant", had previously published a contradictory article on August 27, 2020, which provided an explanation of the events that contradicted the first article.

In 2022, the media outlet "Project" noted that "Kommerstant", along with other major Russian media outlets, had stopped covering the work of the Levada Center, a research organization, and its public opinion polls, without any apparent reason.

This lack of coverage was seen as a sign of the media outlets' subservience to the Russian government, which may not have wanted to contradict the results of official polls.

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Kommersant's newspaper operations are a crucial part of the company's success. The newspaper was first published in 1992 and has since become one of the most widely read and respected publications in Russia.

The newspaper's circulation has steadily increased over the years, reaching a peak of over 140,000 copies sold daily. This is a testament to the newspaper's high-quality content and its ability to connect with readers across the country.

Kommersant's newspaper operations are also known for their innovative approach to storytelling, using a mix of in-depth analysis, investigative reporting, and feature articles to engage readers.

Journalists at the Russian newspaper "Kommerstant" have faced difficulties due to the lack of clear guidelines on their behavior outside of the publication.

In 2019, the paper's correspondent Maria Karpenko was let go, allegedly due to her work on a Telegram channel that covered local politics, which the newspaper's management deemed a conflict of interest.

The newspaper's editor-in-chief, Vladimir Zhelonkin, claimed that Karpenko's work on the Telegram channel was the reason for her dismissal, but Karpenko argued that it was actually due to her coverage of the governor's election campaign, which displeased the administration and local authorities.

This incident highlights the challenges that journalists face when working for a newspaper with a complex and often opaque management structure.

Following Karpenko's dismissal, several other journalists left the paper, including three who submitted their resignation letters after her departure.

In 2024, a new editor-in-chief, Mikhail Lukin, was appointed, which led to further difficulties for the newspaper's staff, according to journalist Darya Burlakova.

Burlakova claimed that Lukin's appointment marked the beginning of a "progressive management and ethical crisis" at the newspaper, which included the violation of workers' rights and forced layoffs.

The newspaper's owner, Alisher Usmanov, responded to Burlakova's allegations by stating that he does not interfere with the editorial process and promised to discuss the matter with the newspaper's board of directors.

In the digital age, newspapers face a significant challenge in maintaining their archives and preserving their history. The loss of articles and interview edits is a pressing issue that affects many publications.

According to a study, 75% of newspapers have experienced data loss due to hardware failure, software corruption, or human error. This has resulted in the permanent loss of valuable content and historical records.

Newspapers must implement robust backup systems to prevent data loss. Regular backups can help ensure that important articles and interviews are preserved for future generations.

A newspaper that lost its archives due to a server crash reported a significant loss of revenue and reputation. This highlights the importance of having a reliable backup system in place.

In addition to backups, newspapers should also consider digitizing their archives to make them more accessible and easier to preserve. This can be done through scanning and storing physical copies or converting them into digital formats.

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The newspaper has had a total of 13 editors in charge since the late 1980s. The longest-serving editor was Vladimir Borisovich Zhelonkin, who held the position from July 2018 to June 2024.

Some editors have had a significant impact on the newspaper's direction. For example, Alexander Vasilyev served as editor twice, from August 1999 to May 2004 and again from September 2006 to January 2009.

Here's a list of all the editors who have led the newspaper:

In 2004, the Arbitration Court of Moscow ruled in favor of Alfa-Bank, ordering the publisher of Kommersant to pay 320.5 million rubles in compensation for a defamatory article.

Gazette lawsuits against Kommersant have been a recurring issue. In 2009, a record-breaking lawsuit was filed by Oleg Mikhailov, a member of the Russian State Duma, seeking 6.761 billion rubles in damages for alleged "information warfare" by Kommersant.

Kommersant's editorial policy has been scrutinized in recent years. In 2024, the European Court of Human Rights rejected appeals against EU sanctions on Alisher Usmanov, citing the newspaper's shift towards a pro-Kremlin stance under his ownership.

A notable example of this shift was the publication of an article by Dmitry Medvedev in October 2021, which was accompanied by a pro-Kremlin editorial note. The court saw this as evidence of the newspaper's support for the Russian government's actions against Ukraine.

A list of notable lawsuits against Kommersant includes:

The newspaper operations of East View Information Services are quite impressive. They have been archiving newspapers from 1992 to 2024.

One notable aspect of their operations is the language in which they publish. Their newspapers are in Russian.

Moscow is the city where their newspaper operations are based. This is a significant fact, as it gives us an idea of their geographical focus.

Russia is the country where their newspaper operations are located. This is consistent with the city mentioned earlier.

Their newspapers are published daily, which is a notable frequency. This suggests that they are committed to keeping their readers informed on a regular basis.

The format of their newspapers is PDF, which is page-based. This is a common format for digital newspapers.

They produce the newspapers, which is a crucial part of their operations. This is a key fact about their business model.

Their newspapers are available on two platforms: East View Universal Database and Global Press Archive.

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Kommersant's Business News section is a treasure trove of information, covering a wide range of topics from economics to politics. They have a team of expert journalists who provide in-depth analysis and breaking news on the latest developments in the business world.

In 1999, Boris Beresovsky and Badri Patarkatsishvili acquired 100% of the shares of Kommersant's publishing house. This marked a significant turning point in the company's history, paving the way for its future growth and expansion.

Their coverage of economics is particularly notable, with a focus on the latest trends and developments in the industry. For example, in October 2025, they reported on a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Alexander Novak, where they discussed the country's energy policy.

Here are some of the key players in Kommersant's Business News section:

Kommersant's Business News section is a must-read for anyone interested in staying up-to-date on the latest developments in the business world. Their team of expert journalists provides in-depth analysis and breaking news on the latest trends and developments in the industry.

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