Vladimir Putin’s Intel Officer Defects
According to multiple major news sources, Russian President/Dictator Vladimir Putin’s security service officer responsible for setting up his secure communications has defected.
In the first interview since his defection in October, Gleb Karakulov, a captain in the Federal Protection Service (FSO) referred to Vladimir Putin as a “war criminal” saying that since the invasion of Ukraine, “he simply could not be in the service of this president.” He went on to say “It is time to end this war and stop being silent.” Karakulov worked as a communications engineer in the department that provided secret communications for Putin. He was personally responsible for setting up secure communications for the Russian president wherever and whenever he traveled. He attended in total over 180 trips abroad with Putin during his service to the Russian President.
The Defection of Gleb Karakulov
In his interview, Karakulov told the Dossier Center group that he was able to defect on October 14 after a business trip to Kazakhstan on which his wife and daughter accompanied him. On the last day of the trip, the young family flew to Istanbul with no intention of ever returning to Russia. Their flight was temporarily delayed so they all turned off their phones and prayed it wasn’t delayed to stop them from getting out. Eventually, they were able to board and take off without incident or discovery by the Russian or Turkish authorities.
Secrets The Defector Told Us About Putin
1. Putin does not use a cell phone or the internet, not even for a second. So this has left him in a complete vacuum of no new information. Imagine never going on the web, do you know how behind humanity you would be in terms of information and communication? Way too far behind to lead a major nuclear power that’s for sure!
2. Putin is healthy as a horse and is rarely sick. In fact, he has only canceled a couple of events in the past few years due to his health and has essentially put himself inside a covid free bubble since the pandemic started.
3. Putin travels by secret train disguised to look like any other train. After the invasion of Ukraine Putin got even more paranoid and had a passenger train all decked out to be his secret way of traveling. On the outside, it’s just a regular old silver train with a red stripe like any train you would see out on the railways. But inside it’s armored and set up for presidential transport. Putin prefers the train because he believes it can’t be tracked.
4. Putin has identical offices at multiple locations. This is so that Putin can claim he is in one place when he is really in another. The look-alike offices give him cover to claim to be in the Kremlin let’s say when he is really in a completely different and much safer part of the country.
5. Putin had a bunker decked out with secure communications recently. For the first time in Karakulov’s career, Putin asked him to set up communications in a bunker at the Russian embassy in Kazakhstan.
What is Russia’s FSO or Federal Protection Service?
The FSO (Federal Protection Service) is a Russian law enforcement and security agency responsible for protecting the highest-ranking government officials and facilities, including the President of Russia, the Prime Minister, and their families, as well as other government buildings and important locations. The FSO is headquartered in Moscow and operates under the authority of the President of Russia. It was established in 1996, replacing the Federal Agency of Government Communication and Information (FAPSI).
Overall, the FSO plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and security of the highest levels of the Russian government, as well as protecting the country’s national security interests.
Other Russian Intelligence Agencies
Russian intelligence, such as the Federal Security Service (FSB) or the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), is tasked with gathering and analyzing information relevant to Russia’s national security interests. This can include collecting information on foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, as well as monitoring potential threats to Russia’s internal stability. In addition to traditional intelligence gathering, individuals working in Russian intelligence may also be involved in covert operations, including cyber-attacks, disinformation campaigns, and other forms of espionage. These activities are often aimed at achieving political or strategic objectives, such as influencing elections or destabilizing foreign governments. It is important to note that any specific actions taken by individuals working in the Russian intelligence would be directed by their superiors and in accordance with Russian law and Putin’s wishes.
Past Russian Defectors
The Russian government, under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin, has a history of being harsh towards defectors, particularly those who have worked in Russian intelligence or held sensitive government positions. In some cases, defectors have been targeted for assassination or subjected to intimidation and harassment.
One example of this is the case of Alexander Litvinenko, a former officer of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) who fled to the UK in 2000 and became a vocal critic of Putin’s regime. In 2006, Litvinenko was poisoned with radioactive polonium-210, allegedly by two former FSB agents who were acting on behalf of the Russian government. Litvinenko died from his injuries several weeks later.
Another high-profile case is that of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence officer who was convicted of spying for the UK in 2006 and later exchanged in a spy swap with the UK in 2010. In 2018, Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with a nerve agent in the UK, allegedly by Russian intelligence operatives. The incident sparked an international diplomatic crisis and resulted in the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats from Western countries.
Putin Loves Punishing Defectors
It is worth noting that the Russian government has denied involvement in both of these incidents and other similar cases and has accused Western governments of fabricating the accusations. However, the evidence and international investigations have suggested otherwise. Overall, it is difficult to predict what Putin may do in response to this defector, as it would depend on the specifics of the defection and the perceived threat to Russian national security interests. However, the Russian government’s history of harsh treatment towards defectors suggests that those who speak out against the regime or pose a perceived threat may be subject to retaliation.
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