The New Nobility of the KGB (32 page)
Read The New Nobility of the KGB Online
Authors: Andrei Soldatov
Tags: #History, #Europe, #Russia & the Former Soviet Union, #Political Science, #General, #International Relations, #Security (National & International), #Intelligence & Espionage, #World, #Russian & Former Soviet Union, #Social Science, #Social Classes
14
Author interview, July 2007.
Author interview, July 2007.
15
The unit was named Analysis and Suppression of the Activity of Criminal Organizations, or URPO by its Russian acronym.
The unit was named Analysis and Suppression of the Activity of Criminal Organizations, or URPO by its Russian acronym.
16
Yuri Shekochikhin, “Bratva placha I kinjala-3” [Criminal group of cloak and dagger, Part 3],
Novaya Gazeta
, May 25, 1998.
Yuri Shekochikhin, “Bratva placha I kinjala-3” [Criminal group of cloak and dagger, Part 3],
Novaya Gazeta
, May 25, 1998.
18
Igor Korotchenko, “Svidetelstva polkovnika FSB Mikhaila Astakhova” [The evidence of FSB colonel Michail Astakhov],
Nezavisimaya Gazeta
, April 28, 1997.
Igor Korotchenko, “Svidetelstva polkovnika FSB Mikhaila Astakhova” [The evidence of FSB colonel Michail Astakhov],
Nezavisimaya Gazeta
, April 28, 1997.
19
Monastyretsky was arrested on April 12, 1996, and was released on September 30, 1997, on his own recognizance. In 2001, he was cleared of all charges. For an example of how the press was used in the struggle, see Alexander Khinshtein, “Bomba iz Shveicarskogo banka, marshalskaya zvezda ili konec svyazi-4” [Bomb from Swiss bank, the epaulet of the marshal, or the end of connections, Part 4],
Moskovsky Komsomolets
, April 14, 1998.
Monastyretsky was arrested on April 12, 1996, and was released on September 30, 1997, on his own recognizance. In 2001, he was cleared of all charges. For an example of how the press was used in the struggle, see Alexander Khinshtein, “Bomba iz Shveicarskogo banka, marshalskaya zvezda ili konec svyazi-4” [Bomb from Swiss bank, the epaulet of the marshal, or the end of connections, Part 4],
Moskovsky Komsomolets
, April 14, 1998.
20
Andrei Soldatov, “FBR Rossiyskogo razliva” [Russian version of the FBI],
Sevodnya
, January 12, 2000.
Andrei Soldatov, “FBR Rossiyskogo razliva” [Russian version of the FBI],
Sevodnya
, January 12, 2000.
21
For details, see agentura.ru.
For details, see agentura.ru.
22
Decrees of the President, Russian Federation, no. 367, March 24, 2003; no. 774, March 14, 2003; and no. 324, March 11, 2003.
Decrees of the President, Russian Federation, no. 367, March 24, 2003; no. 774, March 14, 2003; and no. 324, March 11, 2003.
23
Irina Borogan, “Zagovor bivshih. Kak delyaut karieru goniteli dissidentov” [Plot of the formers: How the oppressors of dissidents build their careers in Russia],
Versiya
, June 17, 2002.
Irina Borogan, “Zagovor bivshih. Kak delyaut karieru goniteli dissidentov” [Plot of the formers: How the oppressors of dissidents build their careers in Russia],
Versiya
, June 17, 2002.
24
Andrei Stenin, “Veterinaram otpustili grehi” [Veterinarians are forgiven],
Rossikaya Gazeta
, September 25, 2004.
Andrei Stenin, “Veterinaram otpustili grehi” [Veterinarians are forgiven],
Rossikaya Gazeta
, September 25, 2004.
25
Aleksander Birman, “Rossia lidiruet po chislu chlenov SWIFT” [Russia is leading on the number of SWIFT members],
Sevodnya
, September 18, 1996.
Aleksander Birman, “Rossia lidiruet po chislu chlenov SWIFT” [Russia is leading on the number of SWIFT members],
Sevodnya
, September 18, 1996.
26
Andrei Soldatov, “Fapsi—obshestvennosti: ‘menche znaesh—krepche spish’” [FAPSI—to the public: The less you know, the sounder you sleep],
Sevodnya
, December 12, 1999.
Andrei Soldatov, “Fapsi—obshestvennosti: ‘menche znaesh—krepche spish’” [FAPSI—to the public: The less you know, the sounder you sleep],
Sevodnya
, December 12, 1999.
27
“Nachalas reforma v FSO” [Reform begins at the Federal Protective Service], agentura.ru, August 7, 2004.
“Nachalas reforma v FSO” [Reform begins at the Federal Protective Service], agentura.ru, August 7, 2004.
28
Decree of the President, Russian Federation, no. 318, February 7, 2000.
Decree of the President, Russian Federation, no. 318, February 7, 2000.
29
Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan, “Nashi specluzhbi-na territorii bivshego Sovetskogo Soyuza” [Our secret services: On the soil of the former Soviet Union],
Novaya Gazeta
, March 27, 2006.
Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan, “Nashi specluzhbi-na territorii bivshego Sovetskogo Soyuza” [Our secret services: On the soil of the former Soviet Union],
Novaya Gazeta
, March 27, 2006.
30
Vladimir Vasiliev, the chairman of the Duma’s State Security Committee, confirmed in an interview with the authors in May 2008 that the FSB had no parliamentary oversight. Irina Borogan, “Zakon o gostaine ustarel” [Law on state secrets is outdated],
Novaya Gazeta
, May 5, 2008.
Vladimir Vasiliev, the chairman of the Duma’s State Security Committee, confirmed in an interview with the authors in May 2008 that the FSB had no parliamentary oversight. Irina Borogan, “Zakon o gostaine ustarel” [Law on state secrets is outdated],
Novaya Gazeta
, May 5, 2008.
1
Olga Kravets, “Proshanie Lubyanki” [Goodbye of the Lubyanka],
Kompania
, December 1, 2007.
Olga Kravets, “Proshanie Lubyanki” [Goodbye of the Lubyanka],
Kompania
, December 1, 2007.
2
For example, on July 18, 2002, Aleksander Mezhov, an FSB lieutenant colonel, was sentenced to three years and a month in jail for passing secret information to the security service of the group Most (controlled by oligarch Vladimir Gusinsky). “Sotrudnik FSB pohitil I prodal bolee 10 tic. Sekretnikh documentov” [FSB official has stolen and sold more than 10,000 secret documents],
newsru.com
, February 28, 2003.
For example, on July 18, 2002, Aleksander Mezhov, an FSB lieutenant colonel, was sentenced to three years and a month in jail for passing secret information to the security service of the group Most (controlled by oligarch Vladimir Gusinsky). “Sotrudnik FSB pohitil I prodal bolee 10 tic. Sekretnikh documentov” [FSB official has stolen and sold more than 10,000 secret documents],
newsru.com
, February 28, 2003.
3
Authors’ interview with an officer of the Moscow department of the FSB, Summer 2003.
Authors’ interview with an officer of the Moscow department of the FSB, Summer 2003.
4
Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan, “Spionov stanet bolche” [There will be more spies],
Moskovskie Novosti
no. 43, November 12-18, 2004.
Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan, “Spionov stanet bolche” [There will be more spies],
Moskovskie Novosti
no. 43, November 12-18, 2004.
5
Roman Shleynov, “Slavyanski shkaf zamdirectora FSB” [A secret of the deputy director of the FSB],
Novaya Gazeta
, June 23, 2001.
Roman Shleynov, “Slavyanski shkaf zamdirectora FSB” [A secret of the deputy director of the FSB],
Novaya Gazeta
, June 23, 2001.
6
Based on authors’ interviews with officers of the Moscow department of the FSB, Summer 2008.
Based on authors’ interviews with officers of the Moscow department of the FSB, Summer 2008.
7
Soldatov’s interview with General M., a head of the directorate in the counterterrorism department, August 2000.
Soldatov’s interview with General M., a head of the directorate in the counterterrorism department, August 2000.
8
Official site of the Russian Orthodox Church, “Svyateshi Patriarch sovershil osveshenie rospisi khrama Svyatoi Sofii na Lubyanke” [Patriarch opened the cathedral of Saint Sophia on Lubyanka], Patriarchia.ru, December 18, 2006.
Official site of the Russian Orthodox Church, “Svyateshi Patriarch sovershil osveshenie rospisi khrama Svyatoi Sofii na Lubyanke” [Patriarch opened the cathedral of Saint Sophia on Lubyanka], Patriarchia.ru, December 18, 2006.
9
Kirill Vasilenko, “Catholicism—non grata,”
Vremya Novostei
, April 22, 2002. See also
www.agentura.ru
.
Kirill Vasilenko, “Catholicism—non grata,”
Vremya Novostei
, April 22, 2002. See also
www.agentura.ru
.
10
In an interview with
Izvestia
, Zdanovich did not deny he was placed at VGTRK as the officer of the active reserve. “Alexander Zdanovich: bivshikh chekistov ne byvaet” [Zdanovich: There are no former Chekists],
Izvestia
, June 3, 2002.
In an interview with
Izvestia
, Zdanovich did not deny he was placed at VGTRK as the officer of the active reserve. “Alexander Zdanovich: bivshikh chekistov ne byvaet” [Zdanovich: There are no former Chekists],
Izvestia
, June 3, 2002.
11
Ibid.
Ibid.
12
Maksim Varyvdin,“Vlasti ne znayut, kuda Nord-Ost duyet”[The authorities do not know where the Nord-Ost is going],
Kommersant
, November 1, 2002.
Maksim Varyvdin,“Vlasti ne znayut, kuda Nord-Ost duyet”[The authorities do not know where the Nord-Ost is going],
Kommersant
, November 1, 2002.
13
Decree of the President, Russian Federation, no. 587, December 11, 2004.
Decree of the President, Russian Federation, no. 587, December 11, 2004.
14
Natalia Gevorkyan, Natalia Timakova, and Andrei Kolesnikov,
First Person: An Astonishingly Frank Self-Portrait by Russia’s President
(New York: Public Affairs, 2000).
Natalia Gevorkyan, Natalia Timakova, and Andrei Kolesnikov,
First Person: An Astonishingly Frank Self-Portrait by Russia’s President
(New York: Public Affairs, 2000).
15
“Moscow to Retaliate for Latvia Visa Refusal,”
Interfax
, August 16, 2001.
“Moscow to Retaliate for Latvia Visa Refusal,”
Interfax
, August 16, 2001.
16
Andrei Soldatov, “Lubyanka lux” [Lubyanka lux],
Delovaya Khronika
, September 19, 2002.
Andrei Soldatov, “Lubyanka lux” [Lubyanka lux],
Delovaya Khronika
, September 19, 2002.
17
“Russian Trio Caught; IBU Boss Speaks of Systematic Doping,”
The Earth Times
, February 13, 2009.
“Russian Trio Caught; IBU Boss Speaks of Systematic Doping,”
The Earth Times
, February 13, 2009.
18
“Victor Cherkesov: Nelzya dopustit, chtobi voini prevratilis v torgovtsev” [Viktor Cherkesov: We can’t let warriors turn into traders],
Kommersant
, October 9. When in 2007 Putin questioned the FSB’s loyalty, he turned to the anti-drug agency headed by his friend Victor Cherkesov to conduct a secret investigation into allegations of corruption in the FSB leadership. Alexander Bulbov, Cherkesov’s deputy, who had been put in charge of the investigation, was in turn accused by the FSB of illegal phone tapping and sent to jail. He was released on November 13, 2009.
“Victor Cherkesov: Nelzya dopustit, chtobi voini prevratilis v torgovtsev” [Viktor Cherkesov: We can’t let warriors turn into traders],
Kommersant
, October 9. When in 2007 Putin questioned the FSB’s loyalty, he turned to the anti-drug agency headed by his friend Victor Cherkesov to conduct a secret investigation into allegations of corruption in the FSB leadership. Alexander Bulbov, Cherkesov’s deputy, who had been put in charge of the investigation, was in turn accused by the FSB of illegal phone tapping and sent to jail. He was released on November 13, 2009.
1
Komsomolskaya Pravda
,“Vladimir Putin: Gosudarstvenny perevorot Rossii ne grozit” [Vladimir Putin: A state coup is not a threat for Russia], July 8, 1999.
Komsomolskaya Pravda
,“Vladimir Putin: Gosudarstvenny perevorot Rossii ne grozit” [Vladimir Putin: A state coup is not a threat for Russia], July 8, 1999.
2
Reuters, “UK Charity Teaching Chechens to Make Bombs, Say Russians,” August 10, 2000.
Reuters, “UK Charity Teaching Chechens to Make Bombs, Say Russians,” August 10, 2000.
3
From an FSB official report of its activities in 2002, published December 16, 2002, on the Web site of the FSB,
www.fsb.ru
.
From an FSB official report of its activities in 2002, published December 16, 2002, on the Web site of the FSB,
www.fsb.ru
.
4
Simon Saradzhyan and Kevin O’Flynn, “FSB: 4 British Spies Uncovered,”
Moscow Times
, January 24, 2006.
Simon Saradzhyan and Kevin O’Flynn, “FSB: 4 British Spies Uncovered,”
Moscow Times
, January 24, 2006.
5
See Russian president’s official Web site, kremlin.ru. The speech was at an FSB conference on February 7, 2006.
See Russian president’s official Web site, kremlin.ru. The speech was at an FSB conference on February 7, 2006.
6
BBC Russian Service,“Putin sravnil opponentov s shakalami” [Putin compared his opponents to jackals], November 21, 2007.
BBC Russian Service,“Putin sravnil opponentov s shakalami” [Putin compared his opponents to jackals], November 21, 2007.
7
Alexander Konovalov, “Valentin Danilov zaprosil pomilovanie” [Valentin Danilov asked for a pardon],
Kommersant
, December 1, 2006.
Alexander Konovalov, “Valentin Danilov zaprosil pomilovanie” [Valentin Danilov asked for a pardon],
Kommersant
, December 1, 2006.
8
Viktor Tereshkin, “Delo Aleksandra Nikitina. Opravdanni Spion” [The case of Alexander Nikitin: Spy acquitted],
Sekretnie Materiali
, October 2, 2000.
Viktor Tereshkin, “Delo Aleksandra Nikitina. Opravdanni Spion” [The case of Alexander Nikitin: Spy acquitted],
Sekretnie Materiali
, October 2, 2000.
9
“Baikalskaya Volna: mi bili spokoini s samogo nachala, tak tak nikakikh zakonov ne narushali” [Baikal wave: We were calm from the beginning, because we never broke the law], anti-atom.ru, November 24, 2002.
“Baikalskaya Volna: mi bili spokoini s samogo nachala, tak tak nikakikh zakonov ne narushali” [Baikal wave: We were calm from the beginning, because we never broke the law], anti-atom.ru, November 24, 2002.
10
See VimpelCom’s Web site,
http://www.vimpelcom.com
.
See VimpelCom’s Web site,
http://www.vimpelcom.com
.
11
“FSB spasla Bilain ot nashestvia varyagov” [FSB saved Beeline from Viking invasion],
www.cnews.ru
, September 19, 2005.
“FSB spasla Bilain ot nashestvia varyagov” [FSB saved Beeline from Viking invasion],
www.cnews.ru
, September 19, 2005.
12
Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan, “Spiono-money” [Spy-money],
Novaya Gazeta
, April 14, 2008.
Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan, “Spiono-money” [Spy-money],
Novaya Gazeta
, April 14, 2008.
13
Irina Borogan, “Generali spionskikh karierov” [Generals with spy careers],
Versiya
, February 11, 2002.
Irina Borogan, “Generali spionskikh karierov” [Generals with spy careers],
Versiya
, February 11, 2002.
14
Irina Borogan, “Sutyagin: Ya ochen khochu vernutsa domoi” [Sutyagin: I want to be back home],
Versiya
, October 13, 2003.
Irina Borogan, “Sutyagin: Ya ochen khochu vernutsa domoi” [Sutyagin: I want to be back home],
Versiya
, October 13, 2003.
15
The story of Yakimishen’s controversy was reported by the authors in “Prevrashenia rezidentov” [Transfigurations of the spies],
Moskovskie Novosti
, August 22, 2004. No actions were taken by the authorities. The information about Yakimishen was included in the text of Application no. 30024/02 by Igor Vyacheslavovich Sutyagin against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights (application was proved admissible on July 8, 2008).
The story of Yakimishen’s controversy was reported by the authors in “Prevrashenia rezidentov” [Transfigurations of the spies],
Moskovskie Novosti
, August 22, 2004. No actions were taken by the authorities. The information about Yakimishen was included in the text of Application no. 30024/02 by Igor Vyacheslavovich Sutyagin against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights (application was proved admissible on July 8, 2008).
16
RIA Novosti
, “FSB presekla deyatelnost bolee sta inostrannih agentov v 2008 godu” [FSB pre-empted the activities of more than 100 foreign spies in 2008], January 2, 2009.
RIA Novosti
, “FSB presekla deyatelnost bolee sta inostrannih agentov v 2008 godu” [FSB pre-empted the activities of more than 100 foreign spies in 2008], January 2, 2009.
17
Stringer
, “German Ugryumov zastrelilsa, a komanduyushi OGV d Chechnye daet pokazania?’ [German Ugryumov shot himself, and a commanding officer in Chechna is questioned], June 29, 2001.
Stringer
, “German Ugryumov zastrelilsa, a komanduyushi OGV d Chechnye daet pokazania?’ [German Ugryumov shot himself, and a commanding officer in Chechna is questioned], June 29, 2001.
18
Irina Borogan, “Generaly shpionskih karierov” [Generals with spy careers],
Versiya
, February 11, 2002.
Irina Borogan, “Generaly shpionskih karierov” [Generals with spy careers],
Versiya
, February 11, 2002.
19
Yuri Snegirev,“Shpion iz 11-A” [Spy from the class 11-A],
Komsomolskaya Pravda
, February 2, 2002.
Yuri Snegirev,“Shpion iz 11-A” [Spy from the class 11-A],
Komsomolskaya Pravda
, February 2, 2002.
20
Authors’ interview with Yuri Gervis.
Authors’ interview with Yuri Gervis.
21
Irina Borogan, “Generali spionskikh karierov” [Generals with spy careers],
Versiya
, February 11, 2002.
Irina Borogan, “Generali spionskikh karierov” [Generals with spy careers],
Versiya
, February 11, 2002.
22
In July 2008 Soldatov was called for interrogation to Lefortovo because he had interviewed the famous double agent Sergei Tretyakov, a colonel in the Russian foreign intelligence service who defected to the United States in 2000. His interrogator turned out to be Pavel Plotnikov, Yuri Plotnikov’s younger brother, who a few years before had worked at the same “spy” section of the FSB Investigative Directorate.
In July 2008 Soldatov was called for interrogation to Lefortovo because he had interviewed the famous double agent Sergei Tretyakov, a colonel in the Russian foreign intelligence service who defected to the United States in 2000. His interrogator turned out to be Pavel Plotnikov, Yuri Plotnikov’s younger brother, who a few years before had worked at the same “spy” section of the FSB Investigative Directorate.
23
Borogan’s interview with Kaybyshev’s lawyer, Yuri Gervis, published at agentura.ru,“Zateyat spionskoe delo Im ne udalos” [They’ve failed to launch a spy case], October 12, 2005.
Borogan’s interview with Kaybyshev’s lawyer, Yuri Gervis, published at agentura.ru,“Zateyat spionskoe delo Im ne udalos” [They’ve failed to launch a spy case], October 12, 2005.
24
Anastasia Kirilenko, “O Pisme akademika Reshetina” [About the letter of academician Reshetin], izbrannoe.ru, December 10, 2007.
Anastasia Kirilenko, “O Pisme akademika Reshetina” [About the letter of academician Reshetin], izbrannoe.ru, December 10, 2007.
1
The details in this chapter are largely drawn from our reporting for
Novaya Gazeta
, which can be found at agentura.ru and the website of
Novaya Gazeta
, novayagazeta.ru.
The details in this chapter are largely drawn from our reporting for
Novaya Gazeta
, which can be found at agentura.ru and the website of
Novaya Gazeta
, novayagazeta.ru.
2
A. I. Kokurin and I. V. Petrov,
Lubyanka. Organi VchK-OGPU-NKVD-NKGB-MGB-MVD-KGB 1917-1991
[Lubyanka organs: VChK-OGPU-NKVD-NKGB-MGB-MVD-KGB 1917-1991] (Moscow: Fond Demokratia, 2003).
A. I. Kokurin and I. V. Petrov,
Lubyanka. Organi VchK-OGPU-NKVD-NKGB-MGB-MVD-KGB 1917-1991
[Lubyanka organs: VChK-OGPU-NKVD-NKGB-MGB-MVD-KGB 1917-1991] (Moscow: Fond Demokratia, 2003).
3
Oleg Khlobustov,
Gosbesopasnost Rossii ot Aleksandra I do Putina
[State security of Russia: From Alexander I to Putin] (Moscow: Eksmo, 2005).
Oleg Khlobustov,
Gosbesopasnost Rossii ot Aleksandra I do Putina
[State security of Russia: From Alexander I to Putin] (Moscow: Eksmo, 2005).
4
Sergei Sokut, “Zashita lichnisti, obshestva, gosudsrstva” [Defense of person, society, state],
Nezavisimaya Gazeta
, November 20, 1998.
Sergei Sokut, “Zashita lichnisti, obshestva, gosudsrstva” [Defense of person, society, state],
Nezavisimaya Gazeta
, November 20, 1998.
5
In the 1990s the Service to Combat Terrorism and Protect the Constitutional System was created within the Moscow Department of the FSB. In 2002 this service was divided into two: the so-called Sluzhba BT (Antiterror Service) and a completely new structure with the unpronounceable name of SZOKS i BPEh (Service to Protect the Foundations of the Constitutional System and Combat Political Extremism). It was the first time in the history of the Russian security services that fighting political extremism was separated from counterterrorism; the first was now equal in importance to the second. It was staffed by officials who had previously worked in antiterrorism, and therefore there were frequently cases where a specialist in Islamic extremists was transferred to oversee Moscow higher educational institutions. Authors’ interviews with FSB officials.
In the 1990s the Service to Combat Terrorism and Protect the Constitutional System was created within the Moscow Department of the FSB. In 2002 this service was divided into two: the so-called Sluzhba BT (Antiterror Service) and a completely new structure with the unpronounceable name of SZOKS i BPEh (Service to Protect the Foundations of the Constitutional System and Combat Political Extremism). It was the first time in the history of the Russian security services that fighting political extremism was separated from counterterrorism; the first was now equal in importance to the second. It was staffed by officials who had previously worked in antiterrorism, and therefore there were frequently cases where a specialist in Islamic extremists was transferred to oversee Moscow higher educational institutions. Authors’ interviews with FSB officials.
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