CGA’s Galeotti speaks on Russian intelligence in Oslo
In February, Prof. Mark Galeotti spoke at What Future for Russia?, a conference organised by the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies (IFS), which featured a mix of Russian, US and European experts speaking to a capacity audience, reflecting current interest in developments in Moscow on the eve of presidential elections. He addressed the issue of ‘The Security Services and Russia’s Perceptions of Security Challenges and Threats’ and concluded that they — rightly or wrongly — did see a genuine external threat to Russia but had also now come to consider anti-Kremlin activism also as a serious domestic challenge. In the future, the security apparatus is likely to lobby for a tougher line, but cannot be considered to have the unity or power to act autonomously.