Margarita Simonyan
Editor-in-chief of RT and Rossiya Segodnya; central figure in Russian government propaganda.
Margarita Simonovna Simonyan, born on 6 April 1980 in Krasnodar, runs two major Russian media operations: she is the editor-in-chief of the broadcaster RT and of the media group Rossiya Segodnya. The Financial Times named her one of the most influential people of 2025, calling her “Putin’s most devoted envoy” and a “Valkyrie of propaganda.” The European Union sanctioned her in 2022 and 2023, labeling her “a central figure of the Russian Government propaganda.” The United Kingdom and Ukraine also imposed sanctions on her over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the United States sanctioned her in 2024 for alleged interference in that year’s U.S. elections.
Simonyan comes from an Armenian family. Both sides of her family fled the Ottoman Empire: her father’s relatives, originally from Trabzon, settled in Crimea during the 1915 Armenian genocide, then were deported by Stalin’s NKVD to the Urals in World War II; her mother’s family escaped late-19th-century massacres by Turks and settled in Sochi. Her father was born in Yekaterinburg, her mother in Sochi. Both grandfathers served in World War II. Simonyan considers herself both Armenian and Russian. Her family runs a restaurant in Moldovka, Sochi. She says she grew up working-class and decided early to become a journalist, starting at a local newspaper and then a local TV station while studying journalism at Kuban State University. In 1995, she spent a year as an exchange student in Bristol, New Hampshire, through the FLEX program.
As a correspondent, she covered the Second Chechen War and severe flooding in the Krasnodar region for her local station, winning an award for professional courage. In 2002, she became a regional correspondent for Russia’s national Rossiya channel and reported on the 2004 Beslan school siege. She was among the first journalists on site and witnessed the deaths of 334 people, including 186 children. She later said it was the worst experience of her life and that she cried often while writing about it. After that, she moved to Moscow and joined the Kremlin press pool. She served as first vice-president of the Russian National Association of TV and Radio Broadcasters and was a member of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation. Her first book, *Heading to Moscow!*, came out in 2010. In 2018, she wrote the script for *The Crimean Bridge. Made with Love!*, a film directed by her husband, Tigran Keosayan. The film received harsh reviews and became the lowest-rated on several aggregators; her script was widely criticized. Opposition politician Alexei Navalny released a video in March 2020 alleging that state funds meant for the film were siphoned off to Simonyan’s relatives.
Simonyan was 25 when she became editor-in-chief of RT (then Russia Today) in 2005, though she had been working in journalism since age 18. She acknowledged in a 2008 interview that her youth led people to question how she got the job. Andrei Richter, a journalism professor at Moscow State University, suggested she was appointed because she was well-connected. She is a Kremlin loyalist close to President Vladimir Putin. RT launched on 10 December 2005 with 300 staff, about 70 from abroad. Simonyan has often addressed questions about RT’s stance. At launch, she said RT aimed for a “professional format” like the BBC, CNN, or Euronews, reflecting Russia’s view of the world and offering a “more balanced picture” of the country. She insisted the government would not dictate content and that censorship is constitutionally banned. Later, she told *The Moscow Times* that RT grew once it became provocative and that controversy was essential. She said RT’s job was not to polish Moscow’s image. The station has faced repeated Western criticism for bias. Simonyan has said, “There is no objectivity – only approximations of the truth by as many different voices as possible.” In an interview with *The Washington Times* about the 2008 South Ossetia war, she argued that RT was the only English-language channel giving the South Ossetian side. She denied allegations from a former correspondent that RT downplayed Russian bombing and applied censorship, stating that RT is open about being a Russian station that sees the world from a Russian point of view.
- born
- 6 April 1980, Krasnodar, Russia
- field
- Media executive, journalist, propagandist
- nationality
- Russian (of Armenian descent)
- known_for
- Editor-in-chief of RT and Rossiya Segodnya; central figure in Russian government
- spouse
- Tigran Keosayan (film director and actor)
Verified Timeline
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- Margarita Simonovna Simonyan
- Birth Date
- 1980-04-06
- Birth Place
- Krasnodar, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
- Years Active
- 1999–present
- Spouse
- Tigran Keosayan · 2022 · 2025 · end=died
- Children
- 4
- Occupation
- Editor-in-chief
- Education
- Kuban State University
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Simonyan was born in Krasnodar into an Armenian family, both sides descendants of Armenian refugees from the Ottoman Empire. Her father's family, originally from Trabzon, settled in Crimea during the Armenian genocide of 1915 and were later deported by Stalin's NKVD to the Urals. Her mother was born in Sochi to an Armenian family that fled massacres by Turks in the late 19th century. Simonyan has described herself as both Armenian and Russian. She decided at an early age to become a journalist, first working for a local newspaper and then for a local television station while studying journalism at Kuban State University. In 1995, she spent a year as an exchange student in Bristol, New Hampshire, under the FLEX Program. As a correspondent, she covered the Second Chechen War and severe flooding of the Krasnodar region, receiving an award for "professional courage." In 2002, she became a regional correspondent for Russia's national Rossiya television channel and covered the 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis. She was one of the first correspondents to arrive, witnessing the killing of 334 people, 186 of them children. She told an interviewer "It was the worst thing that ever happened to me," and that she 'cried frequently' while trying to write about it. At age 25, she was appointed editor-in-chief of Russia Today (now RT) in 2005. She stated that RT's intent was to have a "professional format" like the BBC, CNN and Euronews that would "reflect Russia's opinion of the world." She later told The Moscow Times that RT started to grow once it became provocative and that controversy was vital. On 31 December 2013, she was cross-appointed as editor-in-chief of the new government-owned news agency Rossiya Segodnya. In 2010, her first book, *Heading to Moscow!* was published. In 2018, she wrote the script for *The Crimean Bridge. Made with Love!*, a film directed by her husband Tigran Keosayan; it attracted scathing reviews and was the lowest-rated film on several film review aggregators.
Reader's Guide
Margarita Simonyan is a central figure in Russian state media and propaganda, serving as editor-in-chief of both RT and Rossiya Segodnya. Her career illustrates the integration of journalism with state messaging in modern Russia. Appointed at age 25, she has been a Kremlin loyalist close to President Vladimir Putin. Her outlets have been criticized in the West for bias and for promoting Russian government narratives. In April 2022, Simonyan proposed removing the article on the prohibition of censorship from the 1993 Russian Constitution, stating that freedom of speech would lead to "the collapse" of Russia and calling for emulating China, a "non-free but prosperous country." During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, she expressed support, tweeting "This is a standard parade rehearsal, It's just that this year we decided to hold the parade in Kyiv." She opposed anti-war protests, stating "If you are ashamed of being Russian now, don't worry, you are not Russian." On 26 March 2022, she made multiple unsupported assertions on NTV, including claims that Ukrainian doctors called for Russian prisoners to be castrated and that Ukrainian "Nazis" were "prepared to pluck children's eyes out based on their ethnicity." On 26 April 2022, discussing the possibility of World War III, she said, "Personally, I think that the most realistic way is the way of World War III... We're all going to die someday." Her sanctions by multiple Western nations underscore her perceived role in information warfare and election interference.
Did You Know?
- Simonyan spent a year as an exchange student in Bristol, New Hampshire, in 1995 under the FLEX Program.
- She witnessed the Beslan school hostage crisis, where 334 people were killed, including 186 children, and said it was 'the worst thing that ever happened to me.'
- At age 25, she was appointed editor-in-chief of Russia Today (now RT) in 2005.
- In 2018, she wrote the script for the film *The Crimean Bridge. Made with Love!*, which became the lowest-rated film on several review aggregators.
- In April 2022, she proposed removing the constitutional article prohibiting censorship, arguing that freedom of speech would lead to 'the collapse' of Russia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Margarita Simonyan?
She is a Russian media executive born in Krasnodar in 1980, of Armenian heritage, best known for heading Russia's international broadcasting operations. She holds the top editorial seat at both RT and the broader Rossiya Segodnya media network.
What is Margarita Simonyan's specific role in media?
She serves as editor-in-chief of RT, Russia's state-funded international news channel, and oversees the wider Rossiya Segodnya media group. In that capacity she is widely regarded as a central voice shaping Kremlin-aligned messaging for foreign audiences.
Why has Margarita Simonyan been sanctioned by Western governments?
The EU, UK, US, and Ukraine have imposed sanctions on her because of her perceived role in advancing Russian government narratives and alleged involvement in foreign election interference. Outlets such as the Financial Times have described her as one of the most vocal defenders of the Kremlin's information strategy.
What is Margarita Simonyan's personal background?
She was born on 6 April 1980 in Krasnodar, Russia, and is of Armenian descent. She is married to Tigran Keosayan, a film director and actor.
Why is Margarita Simonyan frequently discussed in media criticism?
She is often cited as a prominent example of a state-media executive who has become the public face of a government's global information campaign. Her career path from journalist to top propagandist makes her a recurring case study in debates about the intersection of media and state power.
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