The Importance of Diversity in Politics

Putin joined the KGB in 1975 and went through a period of preliminary training. Then straight into the fifth department, which was part of the Leningrad directorate that was subordinate to the fifth directorate nationally. Wasn't it spying on dissidents among other things? It was indeed. And this is something he's always denied and has tried to obfuscate. But no, it's absolutely clear that when he joined the KGB,. He didn't do terribly well but then they became absolutely brilliant and indispensable. Putin made networks of friends and of colleagues who helped him into Moscow after his time as prime minister.