Ten years after the launch of its Russian edition and in line with its international news ‘hub’ strategy, euronews is opening a permanent office in Moscow and has appointed Alexander Shashkov as news correspondent.

Continuing its expansion with the aim providing coverage from the world’s key news areas and following the opening of its offices in Brussels, London, Doha, Cairo and Paris, euronews has announced the opening of its Moscow office. The channel is set to open more offices over the coming weeks.

Euronews’ strategy in Russia is twofold: to improve its news service by being at the heart of Russian current affairs in a year that will be particularly eventful, and to provide unprecedented editorial content devoted to the challenges of the world’s geographically largest country and its 143 million inhabitants.

With these objectives in mind, Lucian Sârb, Director of News and Programmes, has entrusted this office to Alexander Shakov. With the imminent presidential elections in March 2012, Shashkov’s mission will be to follow political and economic affairs closely, paying particular attention to the events that have an impact on international news.

Lucian Sârb noted: “Since Alexander’s arrival in 2003, euronews has really benefitted from his experience and his contribution to the editorial team. I am delighted that he has agreed to open our Moscow office. Alexander will provide insight in the field, which is a great asset, combined with his understanding of European and international affairs related to Russia.”

Alexander Shashkov, trilingual journalist (Russian, English, French), was born in Moscow in 1957. He began his career in 1982 at Gostelradio (State television and radio station in the former USSR) in the French news department, and then in the international news department where he was special correspondent. In 1991, he helped to create RTR, Russia’s national television and radio station. In 1994, he joined the channel NTV, one of Russia’s first private channels, which was bought by Gazprom in 2001.

In 2003 he joined euronews as a journalist for the Russian edition. Alexander studied Journalism at the University of Moscow.

Alexander SHASHKOV, alexander.shashkov@euronews.net