KGB
Origins and Early History
The KGB, an acronym for Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti, was the main security agency for the Soviet Union from 1954 until its dissolution in 1991. The KGB was a direct successor of such preceding agencies as the Cheka, NKGB, and MGB, which were feared and notorious instruments of the Soviet government. The KGB was tasked with the protection of the Soviet Union's political power and state security.
Structure and Organization
The KGB was structured into several directorates, each responsible for a specific range of duties. The First Chief Directorate was responsible for foreign operations and intelligence activities, the Second Chief Directorate for internal political control, and the Third Chief Directorate for armed forces surveillance. Other directorates were tasked with tasks such as economic counterintelligence, protection of party leadership, and border troops.
Activities and Operations
The KGB was involved in all aspects of life in the Soviet Union, from the political arena to the everyday life of ordinary citizens. Its activities ranged from the suppression of internal dissent, foreign espionage, and political assassinations, to the monitoring of the population and the censorship of literature and other forms of media.
Dissolution and Legacy
With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the KGB was also disbanded. However, its functions and duties were largely taken over by the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). The legacy of the KGB continues to influence contemporary Russian politics and society.