Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the need to seek more effective protection of the state border, taking into account the risks of smoldering regional conflicts in neighboring countries.

He said this during a visit to the headquarters of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).

The head of state congratulated the employees and veterans of the Russian special services on their professional holiday, noting their contribution to protecting Russians from external and internal threats.

At the same time, the President drew attention to the tasks facing Russia in the field of security.

“The most serious attention should be paid to information security, the fight against extremism and corruption, and crimes in the economic sphere.

And of course, it is necessary to achieve more effective protection of the state border, especially given the risks of smoldering regional conflicts near our borders, ”Vladimir Putin stressed.

The President called the fight against international terrorism one of the most important challenges, for which a "powerful nationwide system" has been created in the country.

Putin recalled that back in 2010, 779 terrorist crimes were registered on Russian territory.

By 2015, their number had decreased to 36, and since the beginning of this year, only two have been recorded.

“Behind these statistics is a huge, daily, dangerous and hard work, its new quality.

Employees of the FSB and other services under the aegis of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee must continue to act with the same decisiveness and consistency.

It is also necessary to build on the successes achieved in the work of counterintelligence agencies, ”he stressed.

The President recalled that the Russian people have "special scores" for international terrorism.

The Russian leader wished the employees of the Federal Security Service to continue to ensure the safety of protected state facilities and significant events.

In his congratulations, Putin also noted the Main Directorate of Special Programs, urging its employees to continue to solve "a wide range of tasks to increase the stability of the work of key government agencies and communication systems in any, even the most difficult environment."

Congratulating the employees of the special services, the president recalled the history of their departments, stressing that the tragic events of the 20th century, crimes and repressions against the Soviet people will never be forgotten.

At the same time, he noted that the work of the security agencies is one of the most important guarantees of the sovereign, democratic, independent development of the multinational Russian society and its stability in the face of any challenges.

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“Our common task is to resist any attempts to rewrite history, including silence or distorting the role of the domestic special services in defeating Nazism, in general, in ensuring national security and national interests of our country,” Vladimir Putin said.

Over the past century, the head of state noted, the intelligence officers have made an "invaluable contribution" to ensuring the country's security, performing difficult tasks, the results of which have influenced the course of both Russian and world history.

“I hope that the Foreign Intelligence Service will continue to respond flexibly to the high dynamics of changes in the international situation, actively participate in identifying and neutralizing potential threats to Russia,” the President concluded.

Vladimir Putin also laid flowers at the monument in honor of Russian intelligence officers, opened at the SVR headquarters in September this year.

In turn, SVR director Sergei Naryshkin, speaking with a solemn speech, noted significant results in the work of the service, but added that the department was not going to stop there. 

“The Foreign Intelligence Service has approached its centenary with a qualitatively renewed quality, with significant results.

But we are not going to rest on our laurels.

Even the ancient sages argued that each conquered peak is just a step to achieve the next goal, "Naryshkin said.

Recall that on December 20, 1920, the Foreign Department of the Cheka was created.

The First Main Directorate of the KGB became his successor.

It, in turn, was reorganized into the Foreign Intelligence Service in December 1991.

Thus, the SVR celebrates its 100th anniversary.

In addition, on December 20, employees and veterans of the special services of the FSB, SVR, FSO and the Main Directorate of Special Programs of the President of Russia celebrate a professional holiday - the Day of the Security Bodies.