Under Fire: Scrutiny on FSB Chief Bortnikov Following Moscow’s Security Lapse

The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia, under the leadership of Alexander Bortnikov, has indeed been a central figure in the country’s counterterrorism efforts. While the FSB has claimed successes in thwarting numerous terrorist plots, including the prevention of six attacks in 2018 and 39 in 2019, its effectiveness has been called into question by notable failures.

One such failure is the tragic incident at School Number 1 in Beslan, North Ossetia, in September 2004. This event stands as a stark example of the FSB’s shortcomings in counterterrorism. More than 300 hostages, including 186 children, perished when the FSB attempted to rescue them by storming the school. The Beslan crisis exposed significant failures in preventing terrorist situations through the mismanagement of intelligence and highlighted the challenges in the “fog of war” that influences decision-making in counter-terrorism operations.

Furthermore, recent reports have surfaced about the FSB’s attempts to recruit former Islamic State (ISIS) fighters and embed them in pro-Ukrainian Chechen units and Crimean Tatar battalions. This controversial strategy has raised ethical and security concerns about the FSB’s approach to counterterrorism.

Despite these incidents, the FSB continues to play a pivotal role in Russia’s security operations. The recent terrorist attack in Moscow has only intensified scrutiny of the FSB’s capabilities and Bortnikov’s leadership. Critics have pointed to Bortnikov’s controversial history and the FSB’s actions in Russian domestic and foreign policy, particularly in the context of the invasion of Ukraine, as factors that may influence the organization’s effectiveness in counterterrorism.