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Russian premier appoints new Director General to Itar-Tass

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a resolution appointing a new Director General to Itar-Tass

MOSCOW, September 17 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a resolution appointing a new Director General to Itar-Tass.

The newly appointed Director General, Sergei V. Mikhailov, 41, is a graduate of the Department of Journalism of MGIMO Diplomatic University.

His previous occupation was that of the chief of Corporate Communications Department at the state railway corporation RZD.

By the same resolution, Medvedev relieved Vitaly N. Ignatenko of the duties of Itar-Tass Director General and appointed him the chairman of the news agency’s collegium – the highest consultative and decision-making body of a state or public organization in Russia.

Vitaly V. Ignatenko, 71, graduated from the department of journalism of Moscow Lomonosov State University in 1964. He took the position of Director General at Itar-Tass in August 1991.

His previous career record includes the positions of First Editor-in-Chief of the Komsomolskaya Pravda daily, Editor-in-Chief of the New Times magazine, and the chief of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev’s press service.

Mr. Ignatenko holds a number of authoritative international positions, including that of President of the World Council of News Agency.

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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