MOSOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted that Moscow had thwartedmore than 400 foreign spies last year and on Monday called on the FSB, thedomestic intelligence agency, to act to block further foreign attempts toobtain political, economic and military information.
Mr. Putin, who polls show should be comfortably re-elected on March 18,made the comments in a speech to FSB employees in Moscow where he alsospoke of the need to step up Russia’s cyberdefences and strengthen thesecurity of confidential communications systems used by Russian officials.
‘Foreign activity’
Mr. Putin once ran the FSB himself and his comments played into one of hiscore narratives which depicts Russia as a fortress besieged by hostileforeign powers.
“In recent years, as you know very well, there has been an increase inforeign intelligence agency activity,” he said. “They are workingdiligently on Russia, using the most modern methods, spy craft andtechnical espionage means. During the course of last year alone, theactivities of 72 career intelligence officers and 397 agents of foreign spyservices was thwarted,” he said.
Earlier on Monday, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow hadevidence that the U.S. was trying to interfere in Russia’s presidentialelection, but did not say what that evidence was. U.S. intelligenceagencies have accused Russia of hacking and meddling in the 2016presidential election, while European politicians have accused it of tryingto interfere in several elections. Russia denies those allegations.
Mr. Putin last week announced an array of new nuclear weapons, in one ofhis most bellicose speeches in years, saying they could hit almost anypoint in the world and evade a U.S.-built missile shield.
On Monday, he thanked the FSB for what he said was its successfulcounterintelligence work in keeping the arms projects secret.
He said Russia had prevented 25 acts of terrorism last year and 68terrorist crimes, and told the FSB he wanted it to protect young peoplefrom extremism. “Radicalism, whatever political or ideological nature ithas, is in essence destructive, and we’re obliged to protect the countryand people’s future from this threat,” said Mr. Putin. Agencies