News anchor Igor Kirillov, “the voice and face of the Soviet Union”, has passed away

In addition, Kirillov was also the voice and face of the party in the media: he read the party announcements on state television and informed people about the appointments and deaths in the party leadership. He explained the funerals of Soviet leaders, the countless military parades and party congresses. He also accompanied the Soviet leaders on their foreign diplomatic journeys.

For more than 30 years, Kirillov presented “Vremya” (“Time”), the main news program of state television, and was involved in the other programs. In the late 1980s, the news landscape changed, including within the Soviet Union. Newscasters were no longer just solemn “announcers”. Kirillov was seen less and less on state television, his last appearance in December 1989. In 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed.

Kirillov was decorated several times. He is 89 years old. “Pervi Kanal”, the channel that replaced Soviet state television, describes Kirillov as “a legendary colleague, senior comrade and true teacher, with an intelligent appearance, a modest smile and a distinctive voice that we will miss. “

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