Moreover, the Soviet KGB and embassy presence reportedly continues as before in Czechoslovakia.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: 'Free' Czechoslovakia?: Shadows Over The Transition

In fact, as Putin has moved to secure absolute power in Russia, he has relied heavily on fellow alumni of the Soviet KGB and other security services.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Securing America's energy needs

On 5 March, the USSR Supreme Soviet approved a draft law which would transfer control of the KGB from the USSR Cabinet of Ministers to the USSR President and Supreme Soviet as well as provide legal immunity for KGB officers from Soviet citizens.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

Scaramella served with Litvinenko on an Italian parliamentary probe of alleged links between Italian politicians and the Soviet-era KGB.

CNN: Scaramella: I warned poisoned spy

The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, William Webster, remarked in a similar vein on the growing challenge to U.S. counter-espionage capabilities by Soviet military and KGB operations under Gorbachev.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: US-Soviet Relations

Under the new rules being pushed by Baisalov, any adoption agency working in Kyrgyzstan will have to secure separate agreements with four government ministries and with the security service, the successor to the Soviet-era KGB.

WSJ: For 5 years, US families pursue Kyrgyz adoptions

And Mr. Lukashenko is the only ex-Soviet leader to have proudly retained the name "KGB" for his security services.

WSJ: Europe's Last Dictatorship

He was among the first Western reporters invited into KGB headquarters for a rare inside look into the Soviet intelligence apparatus.

CNN: Anchors & Reporters

One storeroom full of cardboard box files contains KGB dossiers recording the fates of hundreds of thousands of people, deported or arrested by the Soviet authorities.

BBC: NEWS | Europe | Latvia to delve into Soviet past