From the Russian delegation present at the negotiations with the US in Saudi Arabia, Serghei Beseda, the former head of Service 5 of the FSB and one of the architects of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, is also part of it.
Based on the information provided by Service 5, Russian authorities were confident that Moscow’s army would not encounter serious resistance in Ukraine in February 2022, as reported by the Russian investigative publication IStories at the beginning of the war.
The data provided by Beseda's Service 5 proved to be inaccurate in many respects.
Shortly after, Beseda fell out of favor with his superiors, but he was not removed.
Only last summer did he resign, and currently holds the position of advisor to the director of FSB, Aleksandr Bortnikov.
Despite Beseda attracting much criticism when transmitting erroneous data about Ukraine, the Kremlin did not remove him, and now, at 70 years old, he returns to the forefront as Russia's negotiator in a possible armistice.
Russian negotiators: Two diplomats targeted by Western sanctions
Alongside Beseda, the Russian delegation in negotiations with the US in Saudi Arabia is also led by Grigori Karasin, a 75-year-old Russian senator and diplomat with a long career, a staunch supporter of Moscow's total war against Ukraine.
Both are targeted by Western sanctions, as reported by Kyiv Independent.
Discussions in Riyadh focused on the US requirements for a possible armistice, including at sea.
Kirilo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, described Beseda as "an extremely problematic person for Ukraine," adding that he "has always caused problems for Ukraine."
Who is Serghei Beseda
Beseda has been an intelligence officer almost his entire life. In 2009, he took over the leadership of Service 5, remaining in office for 15 years.
Beseda came into the media spotlight in 2014 when his name appeared on the front page.
The cited source writes that Beseda was in Kyiv between February 20 and 21, during the bloodiest days of the EuroMaidan Revolution.
"Russia's military involvement did not begin in Crimea, but with the events on Maidan (Independence Square), through the involvement of Russian generals in the events in Ukraine," said Nalyvaichenko, the former head of Ukraine's Security Service.
According to him, Beseda was involved in planning the attacks of Ukrainian law enforcement forces against protesters.
Between February 18 and 20, 2014, around 100 protesters were shot, and hundreds were injured by the law enforcement forces loyal to pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Facing public outrage in Ukraine, the FSB acknowledged that Beseda was in Kyiv during the revolution, claiming, however, that he was sent to assess the "level of protection" of the Russian Embassy and "other Russian institutions" in the city.
Last year, the General Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine concluded that the assassinations were carried out by Ukrainian law enforcement forces at the order of the authorities in Kyiv, under Russia's coordination.
In his memoirs, former US Ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan wrote that Beseda was also involved in negotiations regarding a prisoner exchange between the US and Russia in 2021.
"Spent decades spying on Ukraine"
Service 5 of the FSB, led by Serghei Beseda for many years, has the official responsibility of managing the agency's relations with foreign partners and collecting information in former Soviet republics, including Ukraine.
According to a 2022 Washington Post article, the FSB "spent decades spying on Ukraine," trying to infiltrate Ukrainian institutions, bribing officials, and preventing the country's orientation towards the West.
There is information that Beseda may have been arrested after the rapid failure of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, but Moscow has not officially confirmed this.
According to Kirilo Budanov, Beseda continues to be active in operations against Ukraine. Following the negotiations between the US and Russia, the Washington Post revealed a document detailing Russia's demands for ending the war, including the creation of buffer and demilitarized zones, and the request for the "complete dismantling" of the Ukrainian government.
D.D.