Comment by leosarev
2 years ago
Latter is not correct. It's well known difference in Russia between companies that willingly cooperate with government agencies informally, and those who just provide information upon formal request according to law.
How do you know for sure the people who “just provide information upon formal request according to law” aren’t covertly engaging in informal cooperation?
If one morning the CEO gets an unexpected visit at home from a group of FSB agents asking for some favours, is the CEO going to say “no”? And if the CEO says “yes”, are you going to hear about it, or are they going to let the CEO continue that pretence?
Western CEOs don’t have the same worry about “accidentally” falling out of hospital windows.
Actually, that's happen to some people that I know.
Roem.ru site (small but ifluential at time) recieved official, but illegal request from high level FSB agent to disclose commentators identities. They send formal complaint to a FSB own security and to public prosecutor office. Former officially warned FSB to stoppes illegal actions.
Funny thing: 7 years later FSB agent was convicted for being CIA asset.