--- title: "Putin shifts power to FSB as Russian elites fear agency’s growing control" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/putin-shifts-power-to-fsb-as-russian-elites-fear-agencys-growing-control" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/putin-shifts-power-to-fsb-as-russian-elites-fear-agencys-growing-control" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/putin-shifts-power-to-fsb-as-russian-elites-fear-agencys-growing-control.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/putin-shifts-power-to-fsb-as-russian-elites-fear-agencys-growing-control" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Russia" published: "2026-08-07T16:46:09.929Z" source_reported: "2026-08-07T16:26:20.458Z" updated: "2026-08-07T16:46:09.929Z" trust_score: 62 critic_score: 87 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-07T16:33:59.263Z" --- # Putin shifts power to FSB as Russian elites fear agency’s growing control *A new law targets expatriates, while the security service tightens surveillance and repression at home and abroad* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 62 of 100, higher is better. Trust 62 – named sociologist and officials cited, multiple outlets covered, but no direct documents or specific figures. - Craft 87 of 100, higher is better. Critic 87 – explains relevance, quotes sources, provides names and places, clear structure. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Hype 45 – headline and language are sensational but largely reflect reported claims. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Putin has shifted domestic control to the FSB, replacing mediation between factions with repression and surveillance. - A new law allows the state to freeze bank accounts, seize property and deny consular services to Russian expatriates. - Former presidential official Sergei Kiriyenko faces internal blame for diplomatic setbacks in Armenia, Moldova and Hungary. - Russian elites, including business leaders and civil servants, describe growing fear of the FSB’s unchecked influence. Russian President Vladimir Putin has moved to consolidate power under the Federal Security Service (FSB), abandoning a previous strategy of balancing between financial experts and intelligence agencies. The shift follows setbacks in foreign policy and rising unease over the war in Ukraine. A newly enacted law now allows the state to freeze bank accounts, seize property and deny consular services to Russian expatriates, extending repression beyond the country’s borders. The FSB’s influence has expanded into digital governance, with its Second Service taking control of the Russian internet, known as the Runet. The agency now treats the internet as a potential threat, imposing bans, restrictions and information filtering. Former top presidential official Sergei Kiriyenko has faced internal criticism for diplomatic failures in Armenia, Moldova and Hungary, according to reports. Bloomberg, cited by Dagens.com, reported that a specialised FSB division engineered terrorism charges against Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov to force the platform into compliance. Russian elites, including business leaders and civil servants, have expressed fear of the FSB’s growing power. Sociologist Ella Paneyakh and Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center analyst Tatiana Stanovaya described a climate of intimidation where past loyalty offers no protection. Stanovaya added that the Kremlin appears increasingly detached from domestic administration, focusing instead on the war in Ukraine. ## What the reports agree on All reports confirm that Putin has shifted authority to the FSB, sidelining technocrats and expanding surveillance. The new law targeting expatriates is mentioned in the full report by Dagens.com and corroborated by digests. The internal blame directed at Sergei Kiriyenko for setbacks in Armenia, Moldova and Hungary is reported by Dagens.com and szru.gov.ua. The fear among Russian elites over the FSB’s unchecked influence is described in all digests and the full report. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mentioned the new law allowing the state to freeze bank accounts, seize property or deny consular services to Russian expatriates. The right-rated digest did not report the diplomatic setbacks attributed to Sergei Kiriyenko or the FSB’s control over the Runet. The full report by Dagens.com was the only source to detail the FSB’s role in engineering terrorism charges against Pavel Durov. ## Who covered it Shares of the 8 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 50% (4) - Centre: 37% (3) - Right: 13% (1) 5 of 13 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-07T16:33:59.263Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 9 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-07T19:00:12.723Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The three left-rated digests led on the FSB’s expanding repression and Putin’s reliance on the agency. The Daily Beast’s digest described Putin as "surrounding himself with strongmen" as his war’s popularity declines. De Morgen’s digest stated the FSB had been given "carte blanche" for political and economic repression. Censor.net’s digest reported that the Russian elite fears the FSB is "increasingly out of control". None of the left-rated digests mentioned the new law targeting expatriates or the specific diplomatic setbacks attributed to Kiriyenko. ### Centre - The two centre-rated reports focused on the FSB’s growing influence and the internal power shift. Dagens.com’s full report detailed the new law allowing the state to freeze assets and deny consular services to expatriates, and quoted analysts describing the Kremlin’s detachment from domestic issues. Bloomberg’s digest reported that Russian elites fear the FSB is "out of control" as Putin tasks the agency with maintaining his grip on power. Both reports named Sergei Kiriyenko and the diplomatic setbacks in Armenia, Moldova and Hungary. ### Right - The right-rated digest by Korrespondent.net led on the FSB’s unchecked influence, stating that "the FSB is out of control" and that Russian elites are "living in fear". The digest described Putin as "increasingly relying on power structures to maintain power". It did not mention the new law targeting expatriates, the diplomatic setbacks attributed to Kiriyenko, or the FSB’s control over the Runet. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 5 - unknown: 5 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [szru.gov.ua](https://szru.gov.ua/en/news-media/analitics/kirienko-has-lost-europe-and-began-to-lose-ground-domestically) — kirienko Has Lost Europe and Began to Lose Ground Domestically - [charter97.org](https://charter97.org/en/news/2026/8/7/693918) — Bloomberg: Russia's Elite Fears The FSB, Which Is Increasingly Spinning Out Of Control - [ТСН.ua](https://tsn.ua/svit/rosiyska-elita-zanepokoyena-cherez-fsb-shcho-vidbuvayetsia-v-otochenni-putina-3144347.html) — The Russian Elite Is Worried About the FSB: What Is Happening Around Putin - [The Daily Beast](https://thedailybeast.com/desperate-putin-launches-crackdown-as-he-loses-grip-on-power) — Desperate Putin Launches Crackdown as He Loses Grip on Power - [dagens.com](https://dagens.com/war/everyone-is-terrified-putin-takes-ultimate-control-over-his-citizens-through-massive-fsb-surveillance) — "Everyone is terrified": Putin takes ultimate control over his citizens through massive FSB surveillance - [Korrespondent.net](https://korrespondent.net/world/russia/4900941-fsb-vyshla-yz-pod-kontrolia-elyty-rossyy-zhyvut-v-strakhe-smy) — The FSB Is Out of Control, Russia's Elites Are Living in Fear. - [De Morgen](https://demorgen.be/oorlog-in-oekraine/russische-veiligheidsdienst-fsb-krijgt-van-poetin-carte-blanche-voor-politieke-en-economische-repressie~be867b25) — Russian Security Service FSB Given Carte Blanche by Putin for Political and Economic Repression - [babel.ua](https://babel.ua/en/news/129191-bloomberg-putin-has-ordered-the-fsb-to-investigate-anyone-without-any-accountability-this-is-what-the-russian-elite-fears) — Bloomberg: Putin has ordered the FSB to investigate anyone without any accountability. This is what the Russian elite fears - [istories.media](https://istories.media/news/2026/08/07/fsb-poluchila-polnuyu-svobodu-deistvii-dlya-sokhraneniya-poryadka-v-strane) — Russian Elites Are Now Afraid of the FSB, Bloomberg Writes - [censor.net](https://censor.net/en/news/4017338/russian-elite-fears-fsb-which-is-increasingly-out-of-control) — Russian elite fears FSB, which is increasingly out of control - [Unknown](https://obozrevatel.com/novosti-rossii/rossijskie-elityi-obespokoenyi-usileniem-vliyaniya-fsb-situatsiya-vyihodit-iz-pod-kontrolya-bloomberg.htm) — Russian Elites Are Concerned About the Rise of the FSB's Influence, the Situation Is Getting Out of Control. - [Foreign Affairs](https://foreignaffairs.com/russia/after-putin) — After Putin - [Bloomberg](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-07/putin-looks-to-fsb-hardliners-to-keep-his-wartime-elite-in-line) — Putin Looks to FSB Hardliners to Keep His Wartime Elite in Line ## Questions **What powers does the new Russian law give the state over expatriates?** The new law allows the Russian state to freeze bank accounts, seize property and deny consular services, such as passport issuance, to Russian expatriates. This extends repression beyond the country’s borders and targets those living abroad, as reported by Dagens.com. **Why are Russian elites afraid of the FSB?** Russian elites fear the FSB’s unchecked influence and growing control over domestic and digital governance. Reports describe a climate of intimidation where past loyalty offers no protection, and the agency is seen as operating without accountability, as detailed in Dagens.com and multiple digests. **What diplomatic setbacks is Sergei Kiriyenko blamed for?** Sergei Kiriyenko faces internal blame for diplomatic setbacks in Armenia, Moldova and Hungary. These failures have weakened his position within the Kremlin, according to reports by Dagens.com and szru.gov.ua. **Which outlets reported on the FSB’s role in the charges against Pavel Durov?** Dagens.com was the only outlet to report that a specialised FSB division engineered terrorism charges against Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov. The report cited Bloomberg as the source for this claim. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/putin-shifts-power-to-fsb-as-russian-elites-fear-agencys-growing-control. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Putin shifts power to FSB as Russian elites fear agency’s growing control", https://mediabias.news/conflict/putin-shifts-power-to-fsb-as-russian-elites-fear-agencys-growing-control