Federal Security Service (F.S.B.)

The Federal Security Service (F.S.B.) is Russia's principal security agency, successor to the Soviet-era KGB. It handles internal security, counter-intelligence, and border security. The F.S.B. is newsworthy due to its involvement in suppressing dissent and its role in international incidents, including prisoner swaps. Recent news highlights the F.S.B.'s efforts to control information within Russia, exemplified by potential restrictions on the Telegram app, allegedly to force users to state-controlled platforms for surveillance and censorship. Additionally, the F.S.B. was involved in the detention of a French researcher, Laurent Vinatier, who was recently released in a prisoner swap for a Russian basketball player, Daniil Kasatkin. These events underscore the F.S.B.'s continued influence on domestic policy and its involvement in international relations, particularly in areas of espionage and security concerns.