Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the creation of a news agency in a move to further strengthen Kremlin control over the country's media.
An influential lawmaker described the move as a 'powerful propaganda' weapon and critics dubbed the 'Ministry of Truth'.
According to the Washington Times, the new state news agency will be known as Rossiya Segodnya ("Russia Today").
Rossiya Segodnya will be headed by Dmitry Kiselyov, who is a controversial state television presenter and media manager.
Nationalist lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky said the news agency would see the creation of a "powerful ideological center, a powerful center for propaganda," the report said.
To make way for the agency, Putin ordered the 'liquidation' of the state-run news agency RIA Novosti, which had gained plaudits in recent years for its objective reporting, the report added.
