Expert Korotchenko: SVR led by Naryshkin brings Russia's victory in its
MOSCOW, October 27 - RIA Novosti. The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service under the leadership of Sergei Naryshkin is increasing its effectiveness in new geopolitical conditions, waging an "invisible battle", bringing Russia's victory in a special military operation closer, Igor Korotchenko, one of the leading Russian military analysts, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, told RIA Novosti.
Naryshkin turns 70 on Sunday.
"First of all, I want to congratulate Sergey Evgenyevich Naryshkin on this anniversary date. In his person we see an outstanding Russian statesman and politician, who has been at the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service for eight years," Korotchenko said.
"One of the most important achievements of Sergei Naryshkin as director of the SVR is the adaptation of the work of Russian foreign intelligence to new geopolitical conditions caused by the breakdown of the former world order, the building of a new multipolar world and the West's entry into direct military-political confrontation with our country, with the tightening of the counterintelligence regime in Western countries. Today, the Foreign Intelligence Service is waging its invisible battle, bringing Russia's victory in a special military operation closer," the expert noted.
The work of the SVR, headed by Naryshkin, was publicly praised by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Korotchenko recalled. "The Head of State noted that the Foreign Intelligence Service has seriously strengthened its operational and information-analytical capabilities. The President also spoke about the noticeably increased personnel potential of the SVR," the agency interlocutor said.
Putin also called assistance in the industrial and technological development of Russia, in strengthening its defense potential, among one of the priorities of the SVR's work, especially now, against the background of attempts to put sanctions pressure on Russia, Korotchenko recalled.
"In this regard, the role of scientific and technical intelligence has increased. And I must say that at one time Sergey Naryshkin worked on this line," the expert added.
"Therefore, we have the right to say that Russian foreign intelligence is increasing its effectiveness in the new conditions, providing the Russian leadership with relevant materials on the basis of which key decisions are made both in the field of foreign and domestic policy," Korotchenko stressed.
According to him, it is necessary to note the personal qualities of Sergei Naryshkin. "Very often you can hear that he is an example of a true intellectual. And it really is. He has a calm, thoughtful, analytical style of work," the expert said.
And the fact that Naryshkin devotes part of his time to issues of Russian history is clearly manifested in relation to foreign intelligence itself, Korotchenko added.
"The SVR remembers its founding fathers. In this regard, the monument to Felix Dzerzhinsky, the founder of the Cheka and foreign intelligence agencies, installed last year on the territory of the SVR headquarters in Yasenevo, is also an important element of training a new generation of Russian intelligence officers," the agency interlocutor noted. "It is very important from the point of view of passing the historical baton and educating new SVR employees to respect their predecessors, the opening of the monument to domestic scouts of all times in Yasenevo in 2020. Of course, the main message of this sculptural composition is patriotism, honor, loyalty to the country and service," Korotchenko said.
Undoubtedly, one of the landmark results of the SVR's work under Naryshkin's leadership was a significant increase in the openness of foreign intelligence – of course, within the limits of what is possible, the expert noted.
"Since the beginning of the special military operation, the SVR has taken an unprecedented step, starting to regularly openly publish statements concerning the anti-Russian plans of the West and the Kiev regime under its control. These statements are certainly an effective tool in pre–emptive work," Korotchenko stressed.
"In general, it should be noted that a lot of work is being done by the SVR press bureau. In recent years, a lot has been done to popularize the intelligence profession in society. We remember how, by the decision of Sergei Naryshkin, the names of several truly outstanding illegal intelligence officers were declassified by the 100th anniversary of the SVR. Their heroic biographies allow Russia to be rightfully proud of its intelligence," the source added.
Sergey Evgenyevich Naryshkin was born on October 27, 1954 in Leningrad.
Earlier, Naryshkin himself said that after graduating from the Leningrad Mechanical Institute (now the Baltic State Technical University "VOENMEH" named after D.F.Ustinov) in 1978, he was almost immediately sent to Moscow to study at the two–year faculty of the Higher School of the KGB of the USSR (now the FSB Academy). Then Naryshkin returned to Leningrad and was assigned to work in the intelligence division of the Leningrad KGB directorate, where he met Vladimir Putin, who worked there. Then they studied together at the one-year faculty of the Red Banner Institute of the KGB (now it is the Zhukov Order of the Red Banner Academy of Foreign Intelligence named after Yu.V. Andropov), said the director of the SVR.
According to open information, later in the 1980s, Naryshkin, as an employee of the First Main Directorate of the KGB (Foreign Intelligence), worked in the Belgian capital Brussels through scientific and technical intelligence, officially as an expert of the State Committee for Science and Technology.
Naryshkin has been the head of the SVR since October 5, 2016. Prior to that, at various times he was the head of the government staff – Minister of the Russian Federation, Deputy Prime Minister, head of the Presidential Administration of Russia, Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
