MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. Russian counter-intelligence service put an end last year to activities of over 300 foreign intelligence agents on the territory of Russia, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
"Counter-intelligence bodies worked effectively and promptly last year, putting an end to the activities of 52 foreign intelligence officers and 290 agents as a result of special operations," Vladimir Putin said.
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"It is extremely important today to improve the protection system of data related to state secrets, prevent leaks of information concerning the military organization, mobilization plans, industrial and defense technologies," Putin said addressing the board meeting of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
Moscow has always had and will have an adequate response to anti-Russian actions, the president said.
"All means are used for the so-called restriction of Russia, from political isolation attemps and economic pressure to major information war and instruments of special services," he said at the meeting.
"These tricks do not work with Russia, have never worked and will not work in the future," Putin said.
Provocations against Russia possible during 2016, 2018 elections
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of the risk of provocative actions against Russia during the forthcoming elections of 2016 and 2018. Speaking at a board meeting of the federal security service FSB on Thursday he demanded quashing such destabilization attempts.
"There have been continued attempts by Western secret services for using non-governmental organizations and politicized associations for their purposes first and foremost for discrediting the authorities and destabilizing the internal situation in Russia," Putin said. He warned there were plans for such actions during the forthcoming election campaigns of 2016 and 2018.
"I have said more than once and I can say once again: we are prepared for a dialogue with the opposition, we will maintain relations of partnership with civil society in the broadest sense. We invariably turn an attentive ear to those who meaningfully criticize the authorities at any level for certain actions or for inactivity. Such a dialogue and partnership are always useful and absolutely necessary in any country, including ours," Putin said. At the same time he said that "it makes no sense to enter into discussions with those who act on orders from abroad, in the interests of another country or other countries, and not their own."
"We will keep focus on the existence of foreign sources of financing non-governmental organizations and checking the conformity of their officially proclaimed goals with their practical work. Any violations must be blocked," Putin said.
Putin orders Federal Security Service to ensure security at Victory Day celebrations
The president has ordered Federal Security Service (FSB) Thursday to ensure security at celebrations of Victory Day on May 9 and other large-scale international events.
"Your direct responsibility is to ensure the highest possible level of anti-terrorist protection of international events planned in Russia this year. First of all, I am talking about celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Victory Day and BRICS and SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization] summits in Ufa [in July]," Putin told the FSB collegium.