Free Republic

Russia plans effectively to revive the KGB under a massive shake-up of its security forces, a respected business daily has reported. A State Security Ministry, or MGB, would be created from the current Federal Security Service (FSB) , and would incorporate the foreign intelligence service (SVR) and the state guard service (FSO), under the plans. It would be handed all-encompassing powers once possessed by the KGB, the Kommersant newspaper said, citing security service sources. Like the much-feared KGB, it would also oversee the prosecutions of Kremlin critics, a task currently undertaken by the Investigative Committee, headed by Alexander Bastrykin, a...

Vladimir Putin has decreed on the revamping of Russia’s domestic security service, the FSB, and other power-wielding agencies, the Gazeta newspaper reports. Authorities are expected to unveil their plans on Wednesday, the paper reports. The reform will affect, first and foremost, the Federal Security Serivce (FSB), that is to be renamed the Ministry for State Security. Putin signed the decree Sunday, the Russian Information Agency Novosti reported. The new agency will assume practically all functions of the Soviet-era KGB, with the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) and the Federal Security Guard Service (FSO) being incorporated in its structure. At the same...