Dmitry Kiselev is leaving his post as host of the weekly news program Vesti Nedeli on the Rossiya television channel, the press service of the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK) reported. His place will be taken in September by State Duma deputy and TV presenter Yevgeny Popov.
Kiselev had hosted Vesti Nedeli since September 2012. He remains with the channel, however: starting September 6, his weekly author's program "Kiselev" will air, in which the host will present his "author's view" of major events in Russia and the world. The show is scheduled for Sundays at 22:00.
Kiselev also retains his post as general director of the state media group Rossiya Segodnya. VGTRK did not give reasons for replacing the host of Vesti Nedeli.
In his Telegram channel, Kiselev congratulated Popov on "the height he has taken," calling Vesti Nedeli "a delicate organism" and "a great creative and civic challenge."
Vesti Nedeli is one of the main propaganda programs of Russian state television, airing on Sundays and regularly broadcasting Kremlin narratives about the war against Ukraine, the West, and Russia's domestic policy.