Vladimir Pozner is a veteran journalist and bestselling author. He is the host of the top-rated weekly current affairs program on Channel One – Russia’s largest television network.

Named the “Voice of Moscow” by CNN, Pozner is a regular commentator on Russia, and the history of the Cold War, in Western media. He is the author of a number bestselling books including Parting with Illusions and Eyewitness: A Personal Account of the Unraveling of the Soviet Union.

As a correspondent for Radio Moscow, Pozner became a sought-after commentator on Russian politics and East-West relations. During the 1980’s, Pozner co-hosted a series of experimental international telecasts with Phil Donahue. Called A Citizen’s Summit, these televised discussions between Soviet and U.S. viewers helped promote the concept of glasnost to a mass Soviet audience.

Pozner has won multiple awards, including three Emmys, nine TEFI awards and several international honours. He also was a correspondent for NBC Olympics during the 2014 Sochi Games, and has been a frequent guest on Western media analyzing the conflict in the Ukraine and partition of Crimea.

“For the average Russian, who is a very proud person with a sense of history and a belief that his is a great country, Putin has given him back his sense of pride – you cannot ignore us any more, the way you did when Yeltsin was in power and Russia was on its knees.”