(Dan Tri) – With the mission of ensuring the absolute safety of the President, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSO) is considered a powerful, versatile and extremely secret unit.
A team of special agents protects President Putin at an event in Vienna, Austria (Photo: TASS)
According to RBTH, because almost no Russian security force is as highly secretive as the Russian Federal Protection Service (FSO), information related to FSO’s activities is based only on speculation.
For 16 years, the FSO was led by General Yevgeny Murov, a longtime ally of President Vladimir Putin.
The reason for General Murov’s resignation is said to be due to age issues.
There is not much information about General Murov’s successor at FSO.
Protect the weak
President Putin in Tambov city, Russia in 2012 (Photo: TASS)
The roots of FSO originate from a branch of the Russian State Security Committee (KGB) – a powerful security agency during the Soviet era.
There are many anecdotes surrounding the FSO’s mission to protect the weak.
FSO currently has approximately 20,000-30,000 uniformed agents and several thousand plainclothes personnel.
Sometimes FSO agents wear black vests and headphones, but other times they wear normal clothes and blend into the crowd.
However, some FSO agents still cannot avoid everyday temptations and post a few `selfie` photos taken while working on social networks.
Strong power
President Putin holds a portrait of his father, Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin – a World War 2 veteran, during a march in Moscow in 2016 (Photo: TASS)
FSO agents not only protect the Russian President but also ensure security for judges, witnesses, officials and important locations in Russia such as the Kremlin or the Parliament building.
In addition to protecting government buildings and important structures in Russia, FSO also controls the roads leading to these locations.
FSO is also responsible for monitoring and providing information on the socio-economic situation in Russia’s regions to senior government officials.
One of the activities that shows the recent expansion of FSO’s power is the agency’s establishment and development of an internet network exclusively for state civil servants.
Success
According to RBTH
