You're reading: American TV host Larry King set to interview Azarov

Famous American television host Larry King was due arrive in Kyiv from Moscow today to talk to Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov.

The interview had been scheduled to take place at noon at the Cabinet of Ministers office, according to Azarov press secretary Vitaly Lykyanenko. However, Lykyanenko said the interview could take place later. He was not able to explain the purpose of the interview and specify where it will be broadcast.

“We didn’t pay any interest in that,” Lykyanenko said. “The other party organized everything.”

King recently stepped down from his long-running Larry King Live on the CNN-TV channel amid sagging ratings. King’s reputation is for conducting softball interviews with celebrities or famous people. He remains as special host for CNN.

The Kyiv Post did not immediately receive comments from CNN or King about the reported interview.

This year, the TV channel dedicated nearly a week’s worth of special coverage to Ukraine through its i-List series, which aired Jan. 17-21. It was sponsored by the Ukraine Economic Reform Fund, a governmental body. The coverage was very positive and PR-like, without any presentation of the downsides of Ukrainian reality. I-List anchor Jim Clancy described his program as “cultural journalism” that doesn’t go deeply into politics. CNN officials insisted that editorial independence was preserved, despite receiving Ukrainian government money for the production.

King has been making the rounds in the former Soviet Union. Besides Moscow, PR Newswire reported that King on Oct. 4-5 moderated the KAZENERGY Eurasian Forum in Astana, Kazakhstan.The KAZENERGY Association unites more than 50 major national and international energy companies, according to the press release.

Kyiv Post staff writer Kateryna Panova can be reached at [email protected].

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