Putin's first interview, 1991: I live in a 54 square meters house with...

The “Meduza” website publishes the complete text of the interview with Vladimir Putin, so far unpublished.

Vladimir Vladimirovic, is it true that you worked for the National Security Committee (KGB)? If so, was Sobchak aware when he offered you the post?

I never did hide and I never did that I worked 17 years for KGB's foreign intelligence. The problem is another: I've never boasted. But Anatoly Alexandrovic knew of my previous employment. I told him I would resign from the committee. In this regard, at that time (Sobchak's offer only this summer), I had already presented it and had signed a declaration of mine and resigned as Lieutenant Colonel.

How was the mayor's office proposed? Did you get any calls from Sobchak?

I was called by several of my Juridic friends to tell me that Anatoly Alexandrovic had seen me during the event, had been reminded of me (I was his student at the university) and, as he needed an adviser for foreign economic affairs, had requested reference to me. In Jurydice, I was well - fed, and I received a proposal for work that I immediately responded to. Given all that Sobchak was doing and saying at the time as an MP for the Union, I fully accepted.

Now isn't it?

It does not have only one state task: it decides on economic issues, for the fate of people, and is found in extremely difficult conditions. Relaunching a small region's economy at a point where the whole country's economy is going bad is impossible. The mistake is human. Sobchak is also human. It would be false to say that me and Sobchak always agree on everything. What kind of fucking accomplice are you? If I were hanging from his lips, I don't think he'd like me.

Despite this, you are the head of an important entity and in no way can you deny that the mayor has an excellent report with him and that he listens attentively to your opinion. Knowing your nature, all of this has nothing to marvel at.

I wouldn't like to discuss now the nature or the maniace of Sobchak, even though I hear many say he's sometimes harsh. And they tell me I'm too soft on people. But I understand when someone loses it completely. We are now living with water to the throat, and sometimes patience may cause us to deepen a question. No more power. In terms of reports with Anatoliaj Alexandrovic, yes, we are at work at the same wave length.

You may have heard the rumours that Putin is the author of all the reasons that happen in this municipality. I don't know how much of this can be taken as a compliment, since such an opinion has been made on television screens.

Such a claim is simply naive. There are a lot of problems the mayor and his circle deal with that I have no idea about. On the other hand, something has been said about current KGB reserve officers. And that's a lie: I'm on a waiting list from the KGB. I don't work and I don't get paid. I entered the KGB legally and transparently through selection after college.

Was it a sudden thing for you too?

No, I had already been informed. I agreed. For a while I had various functions - then I was offered to work in external intelligence. I accepted such a proposal and completed my study of respect. I've been working in intelligence all these years. Even abroad.

Why did you agree to work for the KGB?

Look, I wanted to work there. We all lived in a different reference system. I didn't go to work for a political organization. It might be said that I was driven by other motivations; I felt that there I could use my forces to the full and to the advantage of the community. 

Putting your hand on your heart, you think, why 17 years ago the KGB called you exactly?

These are the things the KGB staff does. I've never worked in this office, and I'm not aware of how they work. But it is known that such an office has a long list of qualities that intelligence employees must possess: analytical ability, study of foreign languages, interest in a certain kind of activities, towards specific problems. I, I have to say, I've always been interested in external economic problems.

You mean they trained you before without knowing?

Of course. Secret Service agents are trained without doubt. If they knew, they would begin to adapt and display those sides of the character and personality desired by the beneficiary of information.

You know the notion that proposals like that taken by you owe the informants?

I understand what you mean. Maybe for the staff office, that would have been the easiest way. Setting up contact with someone at a university or at a company and then, when serving staff, turning your attention to people you know first. It is possible to do so. But this is not the general approach to solving such issues: If only the people with whom reports already exist would soon be left with no one to trust. Losing people like that means losing your eyes and ears.

You were part of those?

You wanna know if I had a relationship with the KGB before I got hired? The answer is no.

Tell us. Was your letter of resignation not related to political motivation or frustration?

No. I wanted to have a scientific position, to write a subject that had always been interesting and appealing to me. That's on international private rights. I had already started to pass my tests for my research doctorate and was linked to a LGU professor in order to take him as an assistant. When I was called from Sobchak I had practically settled on this job at the university. I wanted to become a lawyer and to deal with legal regulations in economic affairs. I would add one more no less important thing. To continue working for the KGB at a certain level, I had to move to Moscow. Buy a co-operative apartment or spend 300 rubles rent a month. I have two young children and elderly parents. They are more than 80 years old, we live together. They are. Blokadniki (people who have experienced the Nazi siege of Leningrad during World War II), where should I take them from their hometown? I couldn't abandon them. I had a job here, but let's just say it wasn't the maximum. Then I decided to leave everything. With greater reason when I was offered to work in the municipality.

Interesting. As for your coming to the municipality, it seems to many people that the KGB would want to put a man inside the state administration.

How would the KGB get me through my resignation? Moreover, it is now no longer that monster as we were taught to speak in the past. 

You too consider it a monster The KGB?

Of course, it's an actual clue that the committee device has completely stopped taking on the tasks it was created for. It needs to be rebuilt and done. Besides, I've been working on foreign intelligence, I've had nothing to do with domestic policy problems.

KGB intelligence is an elite?

Yeah. It's done like that. As far as the territorial level is located in Moscow so far from the other dictatorships, there is practically no report with them. And that's not encouraging.

Don't you regret your past?

No, I don't regret it. Man only repents in crime. I didn't commit any and I don't have to apologize. Although the quest for guilt is always easier than taking an important step that I have taken. 

You did it by agreeing to have this conversation. Despite that, neither do you. Your example confirms the rumours that Sobchak takes on his former communist team and former KGB agents. What do you think the reaction of our foreign partners should be to learn your old job? Wouldn't that be boring?

The current American president is a former CIA director. Does this make any important elements for you? I'm an ex, too. A former associate, a former communist. Why should this be a nuisance in my work?

You think you do your job successfully, that you have enough knowledge and strength?

However, my current task enters the realm of my professional interests. I've always dealt with international ties. Even at my degree thesis titled “Parima for a more favoured external market”. The very intelligent work in KGB has given me a lot. In a clean way. I know German, I understand English. The information available helps me a lot at work. I feel absolutely safe. Even on business matters. Not by chance, after I stopped working for the KGB, I co-operated as a lawyer in various economic structures. I find no difficulty in performing my current functions. But as far as I'm concerned, the mayor and deputy mayor are the ones who define them and at the moment we work in agreement.

How much did you manage to provide for your material needs with your old work?

I own basic stuff. I got a car, but unfortunately it's not that good, a “Volga” out of 72. I live in a 54 square - foot [54 sq m] apartment with my wife, children, and my parents. An old residential fund.

Do you think it's hard to corrupt you, but it's possible to blackmail you. I heard, for example, that someone tried to do it. Names have been mentioned. What are your reports with MPs?

I wouldn't want to talk about blackmail, but I don't deny it. They have gone wrong with me. They tried to blackmail me right out of my league at the KGB. There are also examples of another type: there is an MP who has always wanted to pass this or that project. There have been times in which members of the municipal council have signed a million contract with an Austrian company. No one authorized it to be done, no one had discussed the terms of the contract, no one was aware of the company's proposal...

Despite that, I believe the municipal council should exist to assist and direct administration activities. It has to go towards the division of powers: world practice shows it how such a thing is positive. We obey that because of our experience. Several agreements are under way with Estonia. They put on extremely painful issues about the fate of the Russian - speaking population. That is why the member of the Peterburg Council and Russia's MP, Juri Mihajlovic Nestorov, an extremely rational person, is helping hard on the issue. Good relations were built with the Commission for the Planning of the Municipal Council Bilco, where there are good people and willing to work. We put together a position on the monetary fund and, to be honest, our job is this. We have our daily work routine, but they're fascinated by the general line of development of such a sector. People are different, even in municipal council.

People are absolutely different and in different ways react to your past. Have I heard requests expressed by “Memorial” to ban certain professions and positions from former Czechists?

Then why doesn't the issue of leaving the municipality and the Municipal Council of all Communists and military forces arise? Not long ago, the military and this party have tried to realise a plot. Logic is the same. Or in some cases do we talk concretely, and in others do we make the whole flat hair? If we talk about the current officers in reserve, then KGB associates have worked and worked in municipal institutions. That's what all the world's special services do. The only difference is that ours are known to everyone. Their Western colleagues don't get to individualize, work under high-secret conditions. Doing this to us would be impossible (due to funding) and not appropriate (or, until recently). In a totalitarian system it would be enough to say “shut your mouth!” But now, if they don't keep quiet, everything comes out. But, I repeat, no secret service in the world works without such agents. It has been, so it is, and so will be. But this no longer belongs to me: as I said, I am resigned from the KGB.../bota.al