Putin’s People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and Then Took On the West

In Putin’s People, the investigative journalist and former Moscow correspondent Catherine Belton reveals the untold story of how Vladimir Putin and the small group of KGB men surrounding him rose to power and looted their country. Delving deep into the workings of Putin’s Kremlin… when networks of operatives were able to siphon billions of dollars out of state enterprises and move their spoils into the West. Putin and his allies subsequently completed the agenda, reasserting Russian power while taking control of the economy for themselves, suppressing independent voices, and launching covert influence operations abroad.
Ranging from Moscow and London to Switzerland and Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach – and assembling a colorful cast of characters to match – Putin’s People is the definitive account of how hopes for the new Russia went astray, with stark consequences for its inhabitants and, increasingly, the world.

• FYI –>
  • twitter .com/anneapplebaum/status/1518559481889763328 (‘  Genocide then, genocide now. On the language that prepares people to commit atrocities. In the next issue of @TheAtlantic,  https://t.co/IrWIOb98yH  ‘)
  • twitter .com/anneapplebaum/status/1517951843162374144 (‘  In Englishm In Russia the state has ordered publishers to eliminate the word “Ukraine” from textbooks. An attempt to erase a nation and a people, and to leave no trace, has begun : https://t.co/UdEa891k94 ; https://t.co/F9Dg2tjVrg , https://t.co/cpdKxxA7y4 ‘)
  • twitter .com/donwinslow/status/1504976255346950149 (‘  video, So disturbing to watch people make the same mistakes in 2022 that they made in 2016. And just like then they won’t listen. And just like then they dismiss the people trying to warn them and ignore everything that’s happening in front of them. I urge you ‘)
  • twitter .com/McFaul/status/1504604523565764608 (‘  Michael McFaul : Putin’s army not only commits crimes against humanity in Ukraine every day, but they fight like cowards, attacking children instead of Ukrainian soldiers. It must be very humiliating to serve in the Russian army now.’)
  • twitter .com/Schwarzenegger/status/1504426844199669762 (‘ video,   I love the Russian people. That is why I have to tell you the truth. Please watch and share.    https://t.co/sk8vndJqKm , via @AVindman   ‘)
  • twitter .com/CatherineBelton/status/1504393984419971074 (‘ It’s so great to see the government begin to take action to counter abusive lawsuits by the super-rich to stifle public interest journalism. This would never have been possible without the steadfast work of @skcoughtrie, @jessicanimhain, @holt_charlie in support of many journalists ‘)
  • twitter .com/CatherineBelton (‘  Catherine Belton : Author of Putin’s People, a NYT Critics’ Book of 2020, as well as for FT, Times   ‘)
  • twitter .com/CatherineBelton/status/1504545610514542595 (‘ Blown away to be in the company of @oliverbullough @tomburgis in @praddenkeefe’s astute assessment of the sale of London’s establishment, and the legal system stifling writing about that.  https://t.co/SuHqm8rrZY,  FYI : https://t.co/9ufknmSqIa, https://t.co/YvBCgE7yVZ, https://t.co/p99MToYoSD, #PutinsPeople ‘)
  • twitter .com/andreivkozyrev (‘  Andrei V Kozyrev : Foreign Minister of Russia, 1990-1996. Member of the State Duma till 2000; then businessman, speaker. Author: The Firebird (memoir), The Caligula Curse (novel). Washington, DC ‘)
  • twitter .com/McFaul (‘ From-Cold-War-To-Hot-Peace-Michael-McFaul ‘)
  • twitter .com/Kasparov63 (‘ Winter-Is-Coming-Garry-Kasparov  , @chessninja , https://t.co/iRMicVsRD5  ‘)
  • kasparov .com (‘ Garry Kasparov ‘)
  • twitter .com/AVindman (‘ Here-Right-Matters-An-American-Story , @natsechobbyist ‘)
  • twitter .com/anders_aslund (‘  Anders Åslund : Economist & author. Russia, Ukraine & Eastern Europe. Read my latest book:  Russia’s Crony Capitalism ‘)
  • twitter .com/Klitschko (‘  Klitschko : #StayLoud & #ActNow : Find out how below  : https://t.co/g4pqDcVmWN  ‘)
  • zez .am/act.now.by.klitschko (‘ Wladimir Wladimirowitsch Klitschko : #WeAreAllUkrainians , ACT NOW – STOP THIS WAR! This is the voice of Wladimir Klitschko. Put into action by Tatjana Kiel in Germany. To support the Ukrainian people with relief actions. Everyone of us can act! By supporting one of these Initiatives:…   ‘)
  • twitter .com/AtlanticCouncil/status/1504084403286335488  (‘ video, ❝Russia has attacked not just us, not just our land, not just our cities, it went on a brutal offensive against our values, against our right to live freely in our own country, against our national dreams. Just like the same dreams you Americans have.❞ – @ZelenskyyUa,  Lire la conversation complète sur Twitter, via @Kasparov63  ‘)
  • twitter .com/BenFerencz (‘ Prosecuting-Evil ‘)
  • kyivindependent .com (‘  Author: Illia PonomarenkoIllia Ponomarenko is the defense and security reporter at the Kyiv Independent. He has reported about the war in eastern Ukraine since the conflict’s earliest days. He covers national security issues, as well as military technologies, production, and defense reforms in Ukraine.  @IAPonomarenko , @kyivindependent ‘)
  • twitter .com/KyivIndependent/status/1504446867324776453  (‘ While we are extremely grateful for the support we’ve been getting, we understand that other media outlets in Ukraine have been less lucky. That’s why our partners launched a new global fundraising campaign to help independent Ukrainian media.  If you could🙏https://t.co/2rQnKIWL6D🙏 ДЯКУЮ, THANK YOU, Stay Safe!, via @IAPonomarenko  ‘)
  • twitter .com/trudyrubin/status/1504299385231974400 (‘ Give #Zelensky what he needs to protect #Ukraine‘s skies before #PutinWarCriminal murders more children, like today in the #Mariupoltheatre. https://t.co/F9PqpIINGm @PhillyInquirer  @perryworldhouse @UKRinUN  https://t.co/F9PqpIINGm ‘)
  • twitter .com/olex_scherba (‘ olexander scherba : 26 years in 🇺🇦 diplomatic service. Ukraine’s Ambassador to Austria (2014-2021). Author of “ Undiplomatic-Thoughts ”   (2021). Currently NAK Naftogaz.     ‘)
  • twitter .com/KevinRothrock/status/1507102580727496707 (‘ Kevin Rothrock : On the supposed reappearance of Russia’s defense minister, Sergey Shoigu, @MoscowTimes points out that today’s teeny tiny footage seems to match what we saw on March 11, his last sighting. Background, necktie, and clothes. 🤷‍♂️ , https://t.co/ZMftiUvLwK, Read the full conversation on Twitter, 24-03-2022 ‘)