The Old KGB Lives On in Russia

Posted by Kerry Kubilius Dec 5, 2006

When I first read about the Litvinenko story, I was sure it was being sensationalized by a press eager to jump upon a news item that seemed more like the plot of a spy novel that would be of entertainment interest than real, groundbreaking news that could be set in the context of past and current events. For Western newspapers, which often use overseas events to their best benefit, this may be the case. However, for students of Eastern European or Russian history, a spy's poisoning in 2006 has merit beyond its supposed entertainment value.

Many people believe that the democratic or capitalist Russia differs from that of Communist Russia. It does in many ways. However, the current government still has ties to the old Soviet regime. Just like US citizens see the same faces throughout the decades, vote after vote, so has Russia given power to men who have tagged along to see how they can manipulate the situation in Russia to their own advantage.

The Litvinenko story is surrounded by rumors. Is Putin responsible for Litvinenko's death? Was Litvinenko a criminal in his own right? Who else is involved? What will the repercussions be? And what does it mean for modern Russia?

Like other stories that have to do with affairs of state - whether those that are legitimately secret for the sake of a nation's security, or those that have been subject to elaborate cover-up - we probably will never know the true cause of Litvinenko's demise. However, this is just one story that happened to rise to the surface . . . how often do political murders actually take place in the former Soviet Union? How much, really, does the mechanism of the Russian government mirror that of the Soviet government? The Litvinenko story has provided plenty of reason to analyze this issue further.

For further reading, check out Slate's While We Weren't Looking as well as the BBC news site about the mystery of Litvinenko's death.