MOSCOW, OCTOBER 17, 2025 — In October 2025, RT marked its 20th anniversary. The gala evening, held at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, was attended by over a thousand friends and guests of the channel from all around the world. Russian President Vladimir Putin praised two decades of RT’s work from the Bolshoi stage, to mark the occasion.
The Russian leader noted that in 20 years RT has gone from an idea to a global brand renowned around the world.
“I thank your dynamic, creative, and close-knit team for the high level professionalism, dedication to your craft and duty. For boldly, selflessly, and persistently upholding the truth in the global information space. I wish you continued growth, the discovery of new formats and themes in the fierce battle for hearts and minds. To prevail in this struggle, you must continue wielding your secret strategic weapon – high-precision, intercontinental in its reach – the truth. The voice of truth, the voice of Russia, must resound loudly, confidently, and persuasively!” said Vladimir Putin.
RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan, in turn, shared her memories of how the channel was created.
“I remember when you appointed me 20 years ago – it seemed to me the world had gone mad, and the main task was not to disgrace myself. It was impossible to imagine, firstly, that all this would be created, and secondly, that it would grow into such a colossal enterprise. <…> It is a privilege to have the opportunity <…> to work for one’s convictions,” said Margarita Simonyan.
During the anniversary gala at the Bolshoi Theatre, the Russian President also met with the heroes of RT documentary films about the Special Military Operation in Ukraine and held a screening of these films with the SMO participants.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, Russian Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Matviyenko also extended their congratulations to RT as well as world leaders of past and present.
“I like RT because, first of all, this channel tells the truth that others hide; second, it offers interesting and relevant content; third, it expands the horizons of the Global South and does not turn a blind eye to inconvenient truths, as many Western media do,” noted Miguel Diaz-Canel, the President of Cuba.
“The multidimensional mass media outlet Russia Today has been defending the truth of humanity and the peoples’ right to peace for 20 years now. You won’t find another channel like yours. I am RT’s biggest fan,” said Nicolas Maduro, the leader of Venezuela.
“We congratulate RT on its 20th anniversary and express our sincere admiration and gratitude to the entire team for its dedication, impartiality, and objective coverage of world events,” said Luis Alberto Arce Catacora, the President of Bolivia.
Former President of Ecuador Rafael Correa, former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, Serbian film director Emir Kusturica, former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, Pierre de Gaulle, Charles de Gaulle’s grandson, Ndileka Mandela, grandchild of Nelson Mandela, and many others acknowledged RT’s accomplishments and sent their well wishes on the network’s anniversary.
At the Bolshoi Theatre’s Beethoven Hall, the guests attended a special presentation showcasing key events covered by RT correspondents throughout the channel’s 20-year history. The evening rounded up with a performance of the iconic ballet The Queen of Spades.
RT marked its 20 years on air with a stunning projection mapping show illuminating the façade of the Bolshoi Theatre. The lights-and-music show told the story of RT’s evolution from a single, English-language TV channel, into a global multilingual network with presence all over the world.
On Manezhnaya Square in Moscow, RT erected a giant installation designed as a megaphone. The structure features quotes from a wide array of international ‘fans’ of RT’s work — among them, US Secretary of State John Kerry, who dubbed the channel a Kremlin ‘propaganda bullhorn.’ Inside the installation is a studio housing live broadcasts, interviews, and recordings of RT shows.
As part of the anniversary celebration, RT’s creative team produced a series of AI-assisted videos, which were also presented to President Putin and the channel’s guests:
Western politicians who have gone out of their way to obstruct RT’s work congratulate the network on the milestone.
Western establishment journalists question themselves on their casual relationship with truth.
RT correspondents — who have been accused of everything under the sun — decide that they have nothing to apologize for.
With its first international channel launched in 2005, RT is, today, a global TV news network providing breaking stories, current affairs coverage, commentary and documentaries in ten languages: English, Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Serbian, Chinese, Hindi, Portuguese and Russian; it also includes sister multimedia news agency RUPTLY. RT is now available to more than 900 million TV viewers in more than 100 countries around the globe. Just in 2024, RT projects received more than 23 billion views online.
November 11, 2025 at 08:22PM
RT