Is Kommersant Trustworthy? Media Bias, Fact-Checking, and Reliability Review
Kommersant Overview and Political Bias
Observers describe Kommersant as a leading business daily that balances professional reporting with political constraints. Critics suggest that since Alisher Usmanov's acquisition, the outlet has faced pressure to align with Kremlin narratives, potentially leading to self-censorship on sensitive political issues while maintaining an objective tone on economic matters.
| Standpoint | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Overall political leaning | Center Right |
| Estimated number of readers | 25,000,000 |
| Israel support | Neutral / State-aligned |
| Use of loaded / emotional language | Low |
| Target Audience | Elite / Business |
Kommersant History
Originally established in 1909, Kommersant was shuttered by Bolsheviks in 1917. It was revived in 1989 by Vladimir Yakovlev during the Glasnost era as Russia's first private business daily. It quickly became a prominent voice for liberal economic reforms and investigative journalism during the post-Soviet transition.
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Who owns Kommersant?
Kommersant is owned by Kommersant Publishing House, which has been controlled by billionaire Alisher Usmanov since 2006. Usmanov, a prominent metals and telecommunications tycoon, is frequently described as having close ties to the Russian government, which critics argue influences the publication's high-level editorial strategy and political coverage.