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Articles by Andrei Soldatov
Police Using Sledgehammers to Crack Nuts
11 March 12
The March 5 protest rally on Pushkin Square revealed how government security forces were unprepared to respond properly to what should have been a very predictable situation.
Why Putin Will Inherit an Unhappy FSB in 2012
13 October 11
However much funding has grown for the Federal Security Service during the 2000s, this fall they are facing their most serious internal crisis in years. The political uncertainty of recent months has only intensified the problem, and even Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's announcement that he will run for president has not resolved the situation.
Kremlin's Plan to Prevent a Facebook Revolution
28 February 11
Recent events in the Arab world have sparked renewed optimism with online social networks. Many in the West are now convinced that Internet technology can create something previously impossible under authoritarian states — a strong opposition that can seize power through either elections or street demonstrations.
Imitation Anti-Terror
26 January 11
By Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan
Two top officials who were conspicuously absent from President Dmitry Medvedev’s meeting with top security officials — Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev and Federal Security Service director Alexander Bortnikov. They should have been grilled on whether everything possible had been done to prevent the attack.
Turning Misfit Spies Into Heroes
17 November 10
In Russia, the spy fiasco was flipped on its head and spun as a huge success: the agents “penetrated” U.S. society and duped the naive Americans for more than 10 years. In this way, the Kremlin and media can assure the majority of Russians that the country is still a superpower.
The Country’s New Nobility
17 September 10
By Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan
In December 2000, then-director of the Federal Security Service proudly described the FSB’s rank and file: “Our best colleagues, the honor and pride of the FSB, don’t do their work for the money... They are, if you like, our new nobility.” He hit the nail on the head.
Nostalgia for Soviet Spies
13 July 10
By Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan
The recent spy flap is evidence of a serious crisis within Russia’s intelligence. The golden days of Russian espionage were during the era of Comintern, the international Communist organization. That was a while ago.
The FSB Dropped the Ball
01 April 10
By Irina Borogan and Andrei Soldatov
The focus on the Kremlin’s war on terrorism is not to save lives but to make sure the state does not look weak.
Blows Below the Belt
15 July 08
The latest round in a boxing match between Russia's and Britain's secret services began on July 4, when an article appeared in the British press quoting the MI5 counterespionage unit as saying that the number of Russian spies flooding the country had made Russia the third-greatest threat to Britain after Iran and al-Qaida.
