In an odd twist to the new world order, the Western sleuths will be having meetings with the new breed of Russian investigators who are starting their own security firms. But most of the upstarts here are actually old pros -- ex-KGB agents.
"A year ago, arranging for visits of this kind would not have been possible", said Brad Chatfield, director of programs in the former Soviet Union for People to People International, which is facilitating the a two-day conference on private and corporate security Oct. 22 and 23.
The conference was organized by the International Association of Corporate and Private Security, a new group created by several emerging detective firms in Russia, most of them run by ex-KGB officials.
The association's members hope to network with foreign experts this week and explore partnerships, said Viktor Budanov, a recently retired KGB general who is the group's first president.
Budanov, who served 30 years in the KGB, 26 of them in external intelligence, said the important issue in Russia now is protecting businesses and people from organized crime
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