( CNN ) -- RIA Novosti , Russia 's state-run news agency , reported on its own demise Monday after a decree by President Vladimir Putin created a new agency called Rossiya Segodnya . The new agency , whose name means `` Russia Today , '' combines RIA Novosti and state-owned Voice of Russia radio . According to the report , the move is `` the latest in a series of shifts in Russia 's news landscape , which appears to point toward a tightening of state control in the already heavily regulated media sector . '' RIA Novosti was founded in 1941 , just after Nazi Germany invaded Russia , and has grown to a network of reporters in 45 countries and services in 14 languages . The Kremlin says the changes are necessary to save money and make state media more effective . `` It 's difficult to explain this to the world , but we can do this , and we must do this , '' Sergei Ivanov , head of Russia 's presidential administration , told reporters . The Kremlin appointed controversial television host Dmitry Kiselyov to run the new state media group . He was recently embroiled in a scandal over anti-gay remarks , according to RIA Novosti . CNN 's Zarifmo Aslamshoyeva contributed to this report .
Russia eliminates 72-year-old RIA Novosti news agency . The move shows tightening of state control over media , report says . Controversial TV host will be in charge of new state media agency .