MOSCOW, January 24. /TASS/. Foreign secret services are fine-tuning the means of control and surveillance with regards to diplomats as well as resorting to open blackmail and intimidation, Director of the Security Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Roman Abramov said in an article published in the International Affairs magazine on Tuesday.
According to him, modern diplomats increasingly have to work not only under conditions of threats from extremist and terrorist groups but also under "close hostile surveillance" by foreign intelligence. "The methods of control, surveillance, and information gathering are being constantly perfected, provocations and recruiting are becoming more and more shameless and direct," the diplomat wrote.
He also stressed that foreign secret services "are not above blatant blackmail and intimidation."
"The Security Department, in cooperation with our colleagues from foreign institutions, despite the highly complex situation in the world, manages to fulfill its obligations adequately and effectively, maintain the proper functioning of security systems of the Russian Foreign Ministry and ensure their constant improvement," Abramov noted.