Yuri Felshtinsky studied history at Brandeis University, received doctorates from Rutgers and Moscow universities, and was a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is an expert on the history of the Russian secret service from Lenin to the present time, and wrote Blowing up Russia (translated in 23 languages) with Alexander Litvinenko, for whose assassination in 2006 Vladimir Putin was responsible according to the verdict of the UK’s official Litvinenko Inquiry (2016). Vladimir Pribylovsky was a historian, opposition journalist and one-time Duma candidate.

‘Required reading… A catalogue of corruption... fascinating.’ Oleg Gordievsky, The Times‘Crooks and killers... compelling… a clear and accurate picture… the strength of this book is research.’ Vladimir Bukovsky Observer‘Contains extraordinary detail about the way this KGB clan managed to occupy an estimated 7 in 10 of all top state positions, establish control over the country’s natural resources, and eliminate all rivals.’ Telegraph‘Scandals in post-Soviet history… a narrative of infamy and camouflage.’ Economist‘A wealth of detail… convincing as it catalogues a series of crimes… perpetrated by Putin and the FSB.’ Owen Matthews, TLS‘Putin’s shadowy world… unnerving… necessary reading.’ Sunday Business Post‘Dodgy deals and horrible murders.. you end up wondering why quite so many of Vlad’s critics have ended up dead.’ New Statesman, books of the year

• ForewordsList of AbbreviationsFirst PrologueSecond PrologueCHAPTER 1 Korzhakov’s ConspiracyCHAPTER 2 Who is Mr Putin?CHAPTER 3 Putin in St. PetersburgCHAPTER 4 Putin in MoscowCHAPTER 5 The Second Chechen WarCHAPTER 6 “Operation Successor”CHAPTER 7 The FSB, the Oligarchs, and the ClansCHAPTER 8 The President’s Friends or “Agentsand Objects”CHAPTER 9 Managed DemocracyCHAPTER 10 The Suppression of the MediaCHAPTER 11 The Age of AssassinsConclusionNotesIndex