SVR

Russia
Kremlin tightens up control of leading air defence group Almaz-Antey

The detection systems subsidiaries of air defence and missiles manfuacturer Almaz-Antey, which had been due to be partially privatised, are now to be kept firmly under state control.

The Intelligence Gazette
CIA acquisitions, Foreign Affairs Committee, Huawei in France, navy training centre, Moldova fights fake news, lustration in Ukraine

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community. This week, we bring news from Washington, Kyiv, London, Brest, Paris and Chisinau.

United StatesLeadership change afoot in CIA acquisitions office

United KingdomForeign Affairs Committee learns from US intelligence consultants

FranceWhen the intelligence services reportedly tried to ban Huawei

FranceBrest navy intelligence training centre welcomes first pupils

MoldovaSandu protégé to run anti-disinformation centre

UkraineKyiv goes back on its lustration laws

Russia
Presidential administration orders staff to toe ideological line

The president's executive office, which was long considered a bastion of pragmatism, has been told to stay closer to the official ideological line. A memo to this effect is currently being circulated internally.

France, Russia
Allegedly GU-linked Ruslan Pukhov launches new intelligence magazine

Think tank director Ruslan Pukhov - who is persona non grata in France for his alleged links to the Russian military intelligence service - has just brought out a new intel-focused magazine.

China, Russia
Anatoly Tkachuk, building Beijing's bridges into the Russian Arctic

FSB officer turned titanium magnate Anatoly Tkachuk has become the preferred point of entry for Chinese state-owned companies seeking to exploit rare minerals in the Russian Arctic. At the same time, he offers new opportunities for his own associates in Russia.

Russia
Russian rivals Titov and Shokhin compete for role as entrepreneurs' ombudsman

Alexander Shokhin is calling for a reform of relations between the Kremlin and private companies amid growing criticism of Russian entrepreneurs' ombudsman Boris Titov.

The Intelligence Gazette
Protecting state secrets, Rosatom facing DNI, Hakan Fidan and Syria, French DPR and foreign interference

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community, from Moscow to Washington via Ankara and Paris.

RussiaSergey Alpatov gets greater state secrets privileges

United States/RussiaRosatom in DNI's crosshairs

Turkey/SyriaEx-spymaster Hakan Fidan keeps lead on Syria discussions

FranceDPR examining foreign interference

Russia, Ukraine
Non-profit body Popular Unity is present in Russian political and security circles and the Donbass

Thanks to its diversified management structure, the non-profit Popular Unity has a large network of connections, which includes the FSB, business people and senators. Like other associations with security connections, it operates in the Donbass, as well as among the Russian elite.

Russia
Intelligence lawmaker trio tightens rules on state secrets

In the Russian parliament, legislation is being put in place to strengthen the powers of the intelligence services over information security, under the initiative of three former investigators who are now MPs.

Belarus
Loyal lieutenant Nikolai Karpenkov prepares for post-Lukashenko

Acting on persistent rumours of President Alexander Lukashenko's possible replacement, his faithful security chief and deputy interior minister colonel Karpenkov has been rallying his network of journalists and experts to broadcast messages of support for the leader and preferred succession scenarios.

Europe, France, Greece, United States
Indictment exposes SVR industrial spy's former defence partners

While the US Department of Justice's probe into Greek businessman Nikolaos Bogonikolos focuses on goods illegally exported to Russia's intelligence services, the man at the heart of the investigation long worked in the same circles as several European defence groups.

Myanmar, Russia
The behind-the-scenes players of Moscow and Naypyidaw's defence relations

The former head of Russia's military-technical cooperation, Mikhail Dmitriev, has gradually become a key player in the defence partnership between Russia and Myanmar, in no small part thanks to his Myanmar homologue's ties to the head of state.

The Intelligence Gazette
Syrian Kurds at French National Assembly, Kyrgyz diplomacy, Ukrainian BEB, US farm security

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

France/SyriaYPG representatives at the French National Assembly

UkraineEconomic security office headless

KyrgyzstanEx-spymaster on the rise in diplomatic corps

USFood security as well as agricultural sovereignty

Russia
Russian soft power services and agencies promote Russian unity in North Caucasus and Crimea

Away from the military front, Russia and Ukraine are also waging an influence war, with Moscow trying to foster loyalty to the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus ethnic Muslim republics.

Yemen
Saudi Arabia's General Intelligence Presidency counts on Moscow to mediate in Yemen conflict

Increasingly involved in Yemen, Russia has mobilised its external intelligence service to cooperate with Riyadh in identifying how Iran is getting weapons to the Houthi militia forces.