[sudosysgen]

Putin wasn't put in power by the FSB. He was put in power by the oligarchs. Certainly during the unstable period between 1991 and 2006 more or less the FSB had considerable influence however, but that has since been resolved. Beforethen the KGB was not afforded much lattitude. The only time I can think of where the KGB attempted to go against the wishes of the government above them was in 1964, but even then they needed support from within the Politburo and still failed miserably.

Yeltsin had no choice but to collaborate with the KGB if he wanted them to execute his machinations. The rogue elements from the KGB were the reason why Yeltsin was in power to begin with. Without the KGB he would never have been able to illegally arrest Gorbachev and execute a coup.

[baybal2]

> Without the KGB he would never have been able to illegally arrest Gorbachev and execute a coup.

I read many books on events 1990-1993. Even the two soldiers who were guarding the door when Yelzin was arresting his cabinet were hand picked through a very tight network of loyalists in the most extreme secrecy.

They had an order "see anybody resembling KGB? Fire at will"

It's a grandiose conspiracy theory of CPSU holdouts that "KGB subverted the Union!" I will believe more that Trump Donald was a communist spy, than KGB nibbling at hand that fed, and protected it from decimation at the hands everybody wanting to return the favour.

[sudosysgen]

By 1991 a good portion of the CPSU had become ideologically aligned with Yeltsin. KGB officials saw the writing on the wall, and saved his ass.

He knew this very well. If he directly went against the part of the KGB that supported him he would die.

And yes, the KGB subverted the Soviet Union by removing Gorbachev. This is obvious to anyone that has any understanding of history. Removing Gorbachev could not have been anything less.

So yes, I will persist, the only reason why Yeltsin was able to gain power is because a significant faction of the KGB supported him - though not at the very highest level - while the leadership was against Gorbachev. That is to say, thanks to the KGB.