The Rsian sec chief who jst died helpd transfrm 1 of the cntry's most feared intelnce agencies

** Title had to be shortened to fit / allow post **

The Russian security chief who just died helped transform one of the country's most feared intelligence agencies

One of the most powerful intelligence figures in Russia died unexpectedly, according to a Russian government announcement on January 4th.

Igor Sergun, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Russia's General Staff (GRU), died of unspecified causes at the age of 58, The Wall Street Journal reports, although there is no indication died of anything other than natural causes.

The GRU is Russia's most important military intelligence department, and is believed to have a vast foreign operative network.

It is also responsible for a range of paramilitary activities as well — including the Spetsnaz, the clandestine special forces that Moscow deployed in its March 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.

Under Sergun, the GRU recovered from a range of setbacks stemming from Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgia. Although Georgia's military was decisively beaten in the war, the GRU performed poorly during the conflict. According to an IHS Jane's analysis, during the war the GRU was deemed responsible for "friendly-fire incidents as a result of poor inter-service co-operation," including one in which six Russian paratroopers were killed.

As a result, the directorate underwent what New York University professor and Russian security sector expert Mark Galeotti described in a May 2014 blog post as "a savage round of cuts," in which 1,000 officers and 80 of the directorate's 100 general-level officers were either transferred or retired. All Spetsnaz brigades were disbanded or moved under other military commands, while the GRU's presence in Russian embassies abroad was dramatically scaled back.

Under Sergun, the GRU regained control of the Spetsnaz and became a crucial instrument of Russian policy. The Spetsnaz were expanded in early 2014 under the pretext of providing additional security for the Sochi Winter Olympics, according to IHS Jane's. And shortly after that, they became a central part of the boldest Russian geopolitical gambit in a generation, helping to annex Crimea and maintaining pro-Moscow separatists' control over parts of eastern Ukraine.

Click link for remainder of article...


So he died of unspecified causes which in and of itself might seem mundane except for the fact he was head of GRU (Russian military intelligence). To me that makes the unspecified cause interesting.. If we are to believe the reports this would be the 2nd high ranking death close to Putin (reports his head body guard died that passed without comment).

Might be something to watch to see if something else is going on (who takes his place / anyone demoted / etc). I know 2 undersecretaries were recently replaced by Putin personally.

thoughts?


ETA: I am not familiar with the following militarywiki
* - Lieutenant General Igor Dmitrievich Sergun Bio

is a Russian military officer. He is currently Director of the GRU, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Gen. Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, since December 26, 2011.[1][2]

He served in the Armed Forces since 1973, and graduated from the Moscow Suvorov Military School and the Moscow Supreme Soviet Higher Military Command School, and the Military Academy of the Soviet Army and as well in the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

He worked in military intelligence since 1984, and served in various positions in the Main Intelligence Directorate. He speaks several foreign languages and was awarded state awards. In 1998 as a colonel, he served as a RF Military Attaché in Tirana.

In December 2011, he was appointed as Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian General Staff.[3]

a reply to: Xcathdra

On Sunday afternoon, January 3, died the chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Colonel-General, Candidate of Military Sciences, Igor Sergun.
He passed away after a massive heart attack on the 59th year of life. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to the family and relatives of military intelligence.

www.kp.ru...

Interesting

a reply to: the2ofusr1

There we go.. Heart attack..

Thanks for the info / link.


You familiar enough with a possible replacement?

a reply to: Xcathdra

No I am not . I might fall on something later and if so I will drop it off here .

So who is replacing?

0_o? whats suspicious about this? the average life expectancy of Russian males is like 64ish.

originally posted by: AVoiceOfReason
0_o? whats suspicious about this? the average life expectancy of Russian males is like 64ish.

The article I used didn't have a cause of death. The head of GRU dieing with no cause of death is/was suspicious. The2ofusr1 posted an article with a cause of death.

originally posted by: AVoiceOfReason
0_o? whats suspicious about this? the average life expectancy of Russian males is like 64ish.

Sure, for impoverished alcoholics in the middle of nowhere.

Not for wealthy, privileged, powerful people. Unless, well, you know.