Former Vesti presenter Mikhail Ponomarev dies

Journalist and television presenter Mikhail Ponomarev has died, Russia's National Association of Broadcasters announced. The association offered condolences to his family and loved ones.

Ponomarev presented Vesti on RTR from 1991 to 1999. He then hosted the Novosti news programme on TV-6 from 1999 to 2001.

Born in Moscow on July 18, 1969, he graduated from the journalism faculty of Moscow External Humanities University in 1990.

He later headed the news service at the TV Centre television channel.