The KGB, an acronym for Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti, refers to the Soviet Union's main security agency and secret police force, established in 1954. Initially created to combat internal and external threats, the KGB played a significant role in maintaining authoritarian rule throughout the Soviet era. It operated as a powerful intelligence-gathering agency, responsible for counterintelligence, internal security, and the suppression of dissent within the Soviet Union.
The KGB was known for its extensive network of agents and informants, infiltrating various sectors of society, including government institutions, the military, intelligence organizations, and even foreign countries. Its operations encompassed espionage, sabotage, propaganda, and psychological warfare, often employing tactics to manipulate public opinion and suppress opposition to the Soviet regime.
Within the Soviet Union, the KGB operated with broad authority and had the power to arrest, imprison, and even execute those deemed threats to the state or the Communist Party. The agency utilized surveillance, interrogations, and notorious interrogation techniques to gather information and maintain control over the population.
With the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the KGB was disbanded and renamed the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation. However, much of its institutional legacy and methods continued under the FSB, leading to concerns over the persistence of its authoritarian practices and human rights violations.
Today, "the KGB" often serves as a symbol and reference to the oppressive security apparatus of the Soviet Union and is associated with the fearsome reputation it acquired during its existence.
