Scandalous delegation: why the Kremlin sends toxic FSB officers to Riyadh
20 March 16:59
Russia is sending top security officials to Saudi Arabia for talks with the United States, including the former head of the FSB’s fifth service, Sergei Besida, who failed to conduct intelligence before the full-scale invasion, and Senator Grigory Karasin, who initiated the authorization of the aggression against Ukraine in 2014. What are the Kremlin’s plans behind this visit, and why could it affect the security of the Black Sea? Read more in the article
On March 24, the Russian delegation to Riyadh will be headed by Senator Grigory Karasin and FSB Director’s Advisor Sergei Besida. This was announced by Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov. The American team, he said, has also been formed. The talks between Russia and the United States will focus on ending the war in Ukraine.
“We hope that the consultations to be held on Monday will be productive,” the Russian presidential aide emphasized.
Secret FSB mission in Riyadh: what is Russia hiding?
Military expert Ivan Stupak in an exclusive commentary for
“Sergei Beseda is a 70-year-old official who for a long time headed the FSB’s Fifth Service, responsible for foreign intelligence in the post-Soviet countries. It was this structure that was responsible for assessing the situation in Ukraine before the full-scale invasion in 2022,” Ivan Stupak
However, according to Stupak, the service “completely screwed up” – its forecasts were wrong, its intelligence was inaccurate, and the resources spent did not yield the expected result. Due to these failures, Besida was dismissed from his post and now serves as the FSB’s assistant director.
Grigory Karasin: initiator of the invasion of Ukraine.
“Grigory Karasin is a politician who played a key role in preparing for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. In March 2014, it was he who initiated an appeal to the Federation Council of the Russian Federation to give Putin permission to use Russian troops in Ukraine,” Ivan Stupak
According to the expert, the participation of these two individuals in the negotiations may indicate Russia’s attempts to influence the situation in the Black Sea. Ukraine, thanks to its successful actions, has significantly weakened the Russian Black Sea Fleet, forcing it to hide in Novorossiysk and Abkhazia. Moscow is likely seeking to impose restrictions on Kyiv’s use of minefields and other defenses under the pretext of “ensuring the safety of navigation.”
“The Russian Black Sea Fleet is now a ‘homeless fleet’ that cannot be safely based in Crimea and has to act cautiously. The appointment of Besida and Karasin to the delegation indicates that Moscow may be trying to put pressure on Ukraine to weaken its position in the region,” Stupak said.
Thus, the delegation Russia is sending to Riyadh may pursue strategic goals aimed at changing the balance of power in the Black Sea in its favor. However, Ukraine continues to strengthen its positions and demonstrates its readiness to counter any attempts by the Kremlin to impose unfavorable conditions on it.
Who is Grigory Karasin and what experience does he have in negotiations?
Grigory Karasin is a Russian diplomat with many years of experience in international relations. His diplomatic career began in 1972, and since then he has held a number of senior positions in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Karasin served in Russian diplomatic missions in Senegal, Australia and the United Kingdom. In 1993-1996, he headed the Department of Information and Press of the Russian Foreign Ministry, and later, in 1996-2000, he served as Deputy Foreign Minister. In 2000-2005, he represented Russia as ambassador to the United Kingdom, and in 2005 he became state secretary and deputy foreign minister.
In 2014, Karasin was the official representative of the Russian President when considering the use of Russian troops in Ukraine. His activities contributed to the Kremlin’s policy of annexing Crimea and supporting illegal armed groups in Donbas.
For his active participation in the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty , Karasin was subject to personal sanctions by many states. In 2022, he was included in the sanctions lists of the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Ukraine, and New Zealand. Western countries accuse him of contributing to war-mongering and undermining international law.
Since 2019, Karasin has been a Russian senator from the Sakhalin region and chairs the Federation Council’s Committee on International Affairs. His activities in the parliament are aimed at supporting the Kremlin’s foreign policy and justifying Russia’s aggressive actions in the international arena.
Who is Sergey Beseda?
Sergei Beseda is a colonel general of the Russian Federal Security Service who for a long time headed the 5th Service (the Service for Operational Information and International Relations) of this agency. It was this structure that was in charge of the FSB’s foreign intelligence and information activities abroad, including in Ukraine. He is considered one of the key leaders responsible for analyzing the situation before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Beseda joined the FSB back in the Soviet era, gradually moving up the career ladder in the field of foreign intelligence and operational information. In 2003, he became the head of the Office for the Coordination of Operational Information in the FSB’s Analysis and Forecasting Department. Already in 2009, he became the head of the 5th Service, which was responsible for international cooperation and espionage activities, including in Ukraine.
One of his key functions was to create an agent network in Ukraine, collect information on the political situation and influence internal processes. He also coordinated the FSB’s contacts with international partners, including the United States and European countries.
In February 2014, Beseda was in Kyiv during the Revolution of Dignity. Officially, his task was to assess the security of Russian diplomatic missions, but in fact he controlled the activities of pro-Russian forces and tried to influence Ukrainian law enforcement agencies. After the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of the war in Donbas, he was sanctioned by the EU, the US, Canada, Ukraine, and other countries.
On the eve of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, his service prepared analytical reports for the Kremlin on the political climate in Ukraine. Beseda and his deputy, Oleksandr Bolukh, reported to Putin that Ukrainians would welcome Russian troops as “liberators.” These predictions turned out to be catastrophically wrong.
on March 11, 2022, it was reported that Beseda had been arrested. He was accused of providing false information about the state of affairs in Ukraine, as well as of allegedly embezzling funds allocated for FSB operations. At first, he was held under house arrest, and later he was transferred to the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center.
However, according to the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, Beseda continues to perform his official duties in the FSB, which may indicate an internal struggle at the top of the Russian special services.
