Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting of Russian military aviation in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Wednesday, May 15, 2019. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russia: Spy arrests reflect anti-corruption fight

By The Associated Press May 20, 2019 at 6:55am

MOSCOW (AP) — The Kremlin says the arrest of three senior officers of Russia’s top spy agency reflects a no-holds-barred fight against corruption.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday when asked about the arrests that the Kremlin has coordinated anti-corruption efforts that targeted “all agencies and officials of any rank without exclusion.”

Col. Kirill Cherkalin, a section chief in the economic security department of the Federal Security Service, or FSB, was arrested last month along with two other senior FSB officers on suspicion of taking bribes. Russian media have reported that the suspects were found in possession of 12 billion rubles (about $186 million) in cash.

The FSB, the main KGB successor, has wielded a growing clout, and the officers’ arrest has sent shockwaves across Russia’s political scene.

The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.

Submit a Correction →

We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:

WJ Wire

The Associated Press

SummaryMore Biographical InformationRecent PostsContact

The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter

@AP

Facebook

The Associated Press was the first private sector organization in the U.S. to operate on a national scale. Over the past 170 years, they have been first to inform the world of many of history's most important moments, from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the fall of the Shah of Iran and the death of Pope John Paul.

Today, they operate in 263 locations in more than 100 countries relaying breaking news, covering war and conflict and producing enterprise reports that tell the world's stories.

Location

New York City