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Russia's ex-PM introduced as new head of spy agency

Russia's foreign intelligence service must work harder to protect the interests of Russian companies abroad, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, introducing his former prime minister as head of the spy agency.

Putin also called the fight against international terrorism a priority, Russian media reported. He urged spies to uncover terrorist plans, financing channels and the locations of terrorist camps, Russian news agencies reported.

"In addition, intelligence efforts must be focused on supporting the country's industrial and defense potential," Putin told leaders of the Foreign Intelligence Service, according to ITAR-Tass.

The agency "must be able to swiftly and adequately evaluate changes in the international economic situation, understand their consequences for the domestic economy and, of course, it's necessary to more actively protect the economic interest of our companies abroad," Putin said.

Rising energy prices during Putin's presidency have lifted resource-rich Russia's economy and increased its global clout as a major exporter of oil and natural gas.

The consolidation of state control over the energy industry and expansion in foreign markets, particularly in natural gas delivery, have raised concerns in the West. Critics of Putin say he is using energy supplies as a political weapon.

A senior US counterintelligence official said earlier this year that Russia had fully restored its espionage capabilities against the US after a period of decline and was "sending over an increasing and troubling number of intelligence agents."

Putin's remarks came as he officially introduced Mikhail Fradkov, whom he dismissed as prime minister last month but later named to head the Foreign Intelligence Service. The appointment sparked speculation that Fradkov, who had been prime minister since 2004, has a background in intelligence.

Meanwhile, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev founded a new social-democratic movement yesterday to fight for "free democratic choice" in Russia ahead of parliamentary elections in December.

The Union of Social-Democrats said in a statement issued at its founding congress in Moscow that "the potential for free democratic choice and political competition is being limited" in Russia.

"The public political space is being restricted. There is greater pressure on civil society. This is why the social-democrats are uniting to fight for the values of freedom and fairness," the statement said.

But the union, which is headed up by Gorbachev and is made up of local grassroots organizations, is not a registered political party and will not take part in the elections.

United Russia, the ruling party, is expected to win the Dec. 2 elections by a landslide after Putin earlier this month said he would run as its main candidate.
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