FOCUS: RUSSIA specialists as well as state-of-the-art technology at its disposal for offensive cyber operations. It also has numerous armed special units reporting to it. These are stationed primarily in the European part of Russia, but are also deployed abroad. Estimates of the numbers of personnel in these special units vary widely. Since Putin took office in 2000, the Military Intelligence Service's influence vis-à-vis the FSB has steadily declined. However, it traditionally enjoys the support of the military establishment, and in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and the deployment of the armed forces in Syria it has regained influence vis-à-vis the other power ministries. Foreign Intelligence Service When conducting activities abroad, both the FSB and the Military Intelligence Service work together with the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). Like most other power ministries, it reports directly to the President. Since 2016, its Director has been Putin's trusted adviser Sergei Naryshkin, who previously held a leading position in the Presidential Administration and was Speaker of Parliament. Nary­ shkin is a political heavyweight who, along with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev, is seen as a potential successor to Putin as President. Putin still maintains close links not just with Naryshkin but with the other members of the SVR leadership. Historically, the SVR evolved out of the former foreign intelligence arm of the Soviet intelligence service KGB. The present SVR Academy is the successor to the former Red Banner (or Andropov) Institute, whose graduates include both Putin and Naryshkin. The number of SVR employees is estimated at between 10,000 and 20,000. It is mainly active in the former Soviet republics, the rest of Europe and the USA. One of its strengths is industrial espionage. Since 2015, it has also had an increasing presence in Syria. Ministry of Foreign Affairs As with most of the other power ministries, Putin has a strong personal influence on the Foreign Ministry. This is exerted primarily through his advisers in the Presidential Administration. The leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, consists mainly of graduates of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), the training ground for the diplomatic elite. Like the FSB Academy, this is one of the most prestigious universities in Russia. Formally under the control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Institute is now an integral part of the regime. The Institute's Board of Directors has several dozen members, who are currently among the most influential decision-makers in Russia. Federal Protective Service Like the FSB and the SVR, the Federal Protective Service (FSO) evolved from the structures of the Soviet KGB. Its predecessor organisations in the KGB were responsible for protecting the Communist Party elite. In addition to providing personal protection, it is now primarily responsible for protecting government buildings, nuclear power plants and institutions which form part of the military-indus- SIT UAT ION R E PORT 2 0 1 8 | FIS 25