Putin may revive KGB intelligence agency

Mr Putin is expected to revive the famous Soviet-era intelligence agency by establishing the Ministry of State Security.

Mr. Putin is said to have plans to "revive" the famous Soviet-era KGB intelligence agency. Illustration photo: Sputnik.

President Putin plans to build the Ministry of State Security, preparing for the 2018 Russian presidential election, the Daily Star today quoted a source from the Russian Federal Security Service.

A victory in 2018 would keep Mr Putin in power until at least 2024. The Ministry of State Security (MGB) would have representation across Russia’s police and security agencies. The new unit could be made up of the Federal Security Service, the Foreign Intelligence Service and the Federal Protective Service, with increased powers.

Western media claim that the MGB even monitors critics of Mr Putin."Previously our agents only assisted in the investigation, but now they will manage the process from the moment of criminal charges to the trial," said a source from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).

The source added that FSB agents would be responsible for investigating any information provided by the MGB. Sergei Goncharov, a member of Russia's Alpha special anti-terrorism unit, described the MGB as a "hard punch".

News of the KGB's revival comes after Putin's United Russia party won the election for the lower house of parliament (the State Duma) with more than 50% of the vote on September 19. Russian President Putin was the leader of United Russia from 2008 to 2012. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is now his successor.

According to VNE