Russia mysteriously shut down its equivalent to the DEA
Thomson Reuters
The Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN), the Russian equivalent of the DEA, has been dismantled in a sudden move that apparently took the head of the agency completely by surprise.
Viktor Ivanov who, like Vladimir Putin, is a former KGB agent, has been in the Russian leader’s inner circle for decades. Following the shutdown, Ivanov posted to his Facebook: “Comrades and fellow soldiers…I want to apologize that I couldn’t save our organization. We protected our national interests honestly.”
In a bizarre twist the Facebook post written by Ivanov was taken down within an hour and the FSKN claimed that it was part of some kind of conspiracy or “provocation”—a term commonly used by the Russian government to describe something it doesn’t like.
The FSKN has faced international criticism for claims about the “success” of Russia’s regressive drug policies. Russia has one of the world’s highest rates of heroin consumption, and, following Russia’s invasion of Crimea and blocking of methadone treatment, there have been over 100 overdose deaths on the peninsula. Russia has also been credited with helping to scuttle last month’s UNGASS summit.
As Russia’s international image continues to deteriorate, the government has increasingly resorted to its “provocation” mantra. The downing of MH117, the doping scandal, the Panama papers, the murder of Putin’s principal political opponent, Boris Nemtsov, and even Russia’s loss in the Eurovision song contest have all been referred to as either “provocations” or conspiracies.
Last year Nikita Kamaev, the head of the Russian anti-doping agency, was forced to step down after rumors of state-sanctioned use of performance enhancers turned out to be true. He was subsequently found dead. Russian officials are now taking the position that the doping was done without their knowledge, possibly under the direction of the conveniently deceased Kamaev.
Cosmetic power shifts are common in Putin’s Russia and it is very likely that the sudden FSKN shutdown is part of an image war. The newly removed Ivanov would be well advised to watch his back.
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