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Russia's ex-KGB chief warns secret elite over feud Guy Faulconbridge The former head of the Soviet KGB warned on Wednesday that a conflict between rival Russian security services could lead to "big trouble" and urged feuding clans to unite around President Vladimir Putin. Details have emerged of a feud between rival groups of secret service officers who form the bedrock of Putin's team. Observers warn it could split the ruling elite at a critical time when Putin is preparing to leave office. The battle came to light this month after agents from the Federal Security Service (FSB), controlled by Nikolai Patrushev, arrested senior officers from the anti-drugs service, controlled by Viktor Cherkesov, for corruption and abuse of office.
Vladimir Kryuchkov, Soviet KGB chief from 1988 to 1991, published an open letter in the Zavtra newspaper on Tuesday warning that the sides must make peace. "We approach the sides in the conflict and say: 'Make a step towards each other!' Otherwise -- and you should trust our experience -- there could be big trouble and that must not be allowed," the letter says. "We see that the sides are united by a belief in Putin as the national leader, as the factor for stability in the country. Many people share this belief and are ready to support any steps that would lead to mutual understanding of the sides." The letter was signed by four other senior ex-KGB officials. One of the signatories, Nikolai Leonov, a member of parliament and former head of a KGB department, told Reuters the letter was genuine. "Yes, I put my name to that letter," Leonov said. Putin, a former lieutenant-colonel in the KGB who served in East Germany, has crafted a power base dominated by former colleagues from the secret services.
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