Blowing Up Russia contains the allegations of ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko against his former spymasters in Moscow which led to his being murdered in London in November 2006. In the book he and historian Yuri Felshtinsky detail how since 1999 the Russian secret service has been hatching a plot to return to the terror that was the hallmark of the KGB. Vividly written and based on Litvinenko's 20 years of insider knowledge of Russian spy campaigns, Blowing Up Russia describes how the successor of the KGB fabricated terrorist attacks and launched a war. Writing about Litvinenko, the surviving co-author recounts how the banning of the book in Russia led to three earlier deaths.
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"'Was Litvinenko poisoned because of this book?' Irish Independent"
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
About the Author
Yuri Felshinsky studied history at the Moscow State Pedagogical Institute. In 1978 he immigrated to the US and studied history at Brandeis University and Rutgers, where he received his Ph.D. He was the first citizen of a foreign state to be awarded a doctoral degree in Russia.
His previous books include: "Towards a History of Isolation " (London 1988; Moscow 1991);"The Failure of World Revolution" (London 1991; Moscow 1992); "Big Bosses" (Moscow 1999).
Alexander Litvinenko served in the Russian military for more than 20 years achieving the ranks of Lieutenant-Colonel. In 1988 he served in the counterintelligence agencies of the Soviet KGB and from 1991 in the Central Staff of the MB-FSK-FSB, specializing in counter-terrorist activities and organized crime.
He worked in the most secret areas of the KGB, the Department for the Analysis of Criminal Organizations, as a senior operational officer and deputy head of the Seventh Section.
In 1988, at a Moscow press conference, he publicly criticized the leadership of the FSB and disclosed a number if illegal orders which he had received. In 1999 he was arrested on trumped-up charges and imprisoned. After winning his case, he was arrested again and charged with added crimes against the state.
He escaped from Russia, and was granted political asylum in May 2001 by Great Britian where he lived until he was poisoned in November 2006.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
75 of 86 people found the following review helpful
By Joanneva12a
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
BOOM! - In late 2003 nearly 4,500 copies of this book were seized and confiscated by the Russian Secret Service (FSB) as they tried to make their way from Latvia printing presses into Moscow. And no wonder. This book focuses on how elements of the old Soviet regime sought to steer Russia away from the liberal reforms since the fall of the old USSR. The multiple apartment bombings which ripped across the country in 1999, killing hundreds, were more than suspicious. The 'terrorists' were condemned and the tragedies quickly used as an excuse to drag Russia into a second wretched war with Chechnya which continues to this day. The book's spotlight on the attempted bombing in Ryazan leaves little doubt as to who the enemy really was.
The book's translation from Russian into English is superb, but the sheer volume of facts and information combined with the never-ending plethora of Russian names makes for a challenging read if you are up to it. The book however is an excellent primer into the "nomenklatura" mindset of corruption, coercion, and intimidation, and should be studied and kept as a grim reminder of what is possible when criminal elements in the state pursue their own political agendas - and how far they will go when the ends justifies the means in the political game of hardball.
Although the book is a study in extremism, there are still some associations to be made on a lesser level. Propaganda, intimidation, and internal investigations which never seem to come to fruition are just a few that come to mind. Despite the collapse of the USSR, Vladamir Putin, has placed many of his former KGB colleagues in positions of authority alongside him.
As Russians celebrate their "freedom" with the shutdown of the independent press, and genocide committed in Chechnya on a daily basis, I have little doubt that the people of Russia are told they are "winning" the war on terror. When the next 9/11 or Madrid like bombings occur, one where all the "evidence" appears overwhelming and points in only one direction, and yet the enemy, elusive as ever and always just out of arms reach, is never caught or convicted, perhaps you will think to read this book.
The book's translation from Russian into English is superb, but the sheer volume of facts and information combined with the never-ending plethora of Russian names makes for a challenging read if you are up to it. The book however is an excellent primer into the "nomenklatura" mindset of corruption, coercion, and intimidation, and should be studied and kept as a grim reminder of what is possible when criminal elements in the state pursue their own political agendas - and how far they will go when the ends justifies the means in the political game of hardball.
Although the book is a study in extremism, there are still some associations to be made on a lesser level. Propaganda, intimidation, and internal investigations which never seem to come to fruition are just a few that come to mind. Despite the collapse of the USSR, Vladamir Putin, has placed many of his former KGB colleagues in positions of authority alongside him.
As Russians celebrate their "freedom" with the shutdown of the independent press, and genocide committed in Chechnya on a daily basis, I have little doubt that the people of Russia are told they are "winning" the war on terror. When the next 9/11 or Madrid like bombings occur, one where all the "evidence" appears overwhelming and points in only one direction, and yet the enemy, elusive as ever and always just out of arms reach, is never caught or convicted, perhaps you will think to read this book.
50 of 59 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Alexander Litvinenko is a 20-year veteran of the Russian military, achieving the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and serving in the KGB Department for the Analysis of Criminal Organizations, only to be arrested for disclosing a number of illegal orders he'd received and imprisoned. He escaped from Russia and received political asylum in Britain in May 2001. Yuri Felshtinsky studied history at the Moscow State Pedagogical Institute and immigrated to America in 1978 where he obtained a doctorate in history from Rutgers. Felshtinsky is a recognized expert on Soviet Affairs and the other of several books on Russian history and politics. In Blowing Up Russia: Terror From Within, Litvinenko and Felshtinsky collaborate to reveal a scathing accusation of the Russian special services, holding them responsible for acts of terror, kidnappings, contract killings, and efforts to steer Russia back to being a dictatorship. Blowing Up Russia also strenuously denounces the war in Chechnya for its deleterious toll on human life and freedom. A sobering, persuasively charged account, Blowing Up Russia is an essential text for Soviet Studies academic reference collections, and should be mandatory reading for anyone having political, cultural, or economic dealings with present-day Russia.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Important Subject, Nearly Convincing Facts, Very Poorly Written
February 22, 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This work covers an important subject -- namely the seizure of power in the Russia by the old KGB that is leading Russia back into an oligarchical tyranny. Democracy has been failing and it is only a matter of time (say in the next 10 years) that Russia will once again be a state likely to threaten world security. That is the main theme of this book, and the "how" is that the KGB puts up strawmen such as the Chechen terrorism to create a demand for a strong, central and non-democratic government to provide security (through power) to the Russian people.
The downside to the book is that it is essentially impossible to follow and the facts cannot be verified. The narrative skips around, going back and forth with dates, and the great number of players blithly thrown in almost indiscriminately makes for incomprehensible reading. The author is also guilty of a great amount of repetition. But the most troubling aspect to this work is that it contains absolutely no sources or references. The author promises to make them available to such agencies as will impartially investigate the subject matter of this book, but with no such agency likely to come forward in the next decade, proof of the authors' contentions will probably not be forthcoming for some time, if ever.
Had the book been organized better and written by a professional writer, I would have upgraded it to a four or five rating. The lack of sources and verification is troubling, but the book can serve its purpose of drawing the world's attentions to the problems of its KGB/FBS government even without such verifiable sources. I have no idea how anyone can tout the book as "eloquently written."
The title comes from the FBS's using of bombings (blowing up Russia) to terrorize the Russian population so that the role of the FBS becomes increasingly important. The authors fairly conclusively present evidence that these terrorist actions have been perpetrated by the FBS itself instead of by the Chechens and other disaffected minorities. In this respect, there is much to learn here, and the steadily increasing power of the Russian Security Service, the FBS, the replacement to the old KGB, is something that should cause concern to the US and everyone in the West. Astoundingly, the American media seems blind, deaf and dumb in respect to this development.
I highly recommend this book in spite of my low rating. Purchase and read this important book and attempt to comprehend its facts and contentions, however poorly presented.
The downside to the book is that it is essentially impossible to follow and the facts cannot be verified. The narrative skips around, going back and forth with dates, and the great number of players blithly thrown in almost indiscriminately makes for incomprehensible reading. The author is also guilty of a great amount of repetition. But the most troubling aspect to this work is that it contains absolutely no sources or references. The author promises to make them available to such agencies as will impartially investigate the subject matter of this book, but with no such agency likely to come forward in the next decade, proof of the authors' contentions will probably not be forthcoming for some time, if ever.
Had the book been organized better and written by a professional writer, I would have upgraded it to a four or five rating. The lack of sources and verification is troubling, but the book can serve its purpose of drawing the world's attentions to the problems of its KGB/FBS government even without such verifiable sources. I have no idea how anyone can tout the book as "eloquently written."
The title comes from the FBS's using of bombings (blowing up Russia) to terrorize the Russian population so that the role of the FBS becomes increasingly important. The authors fairly conclusively present evidence that these terrorist actions have been perpetrated by the FBS itself instead of by the Chechens and other disaffected minorities. In this respect, there is much to learn here, and the steadily increasing power of the Russian Security Service, the FBS, the replacement to the old KGB, is something that should cause concern to the US and everyone in the West. Astoundingly, the American media seems blind, deaf and dumb in respect to this development.
I highly recommend this book in spite of my low rating. Purchase and read this important book and attempt to comprehend its facts and contentions, however poorly presented.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
They didnt manage to eliminate him before he spoke
Excellent informative book that provides far more than the usual mainstream matter. Thank you Sasha (Sasha is nickname for Alexander) !
Published on February 22, 2011 by reader4321
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oh Alex. If you could see them now..
The one comedian in this unfortunate affair is the Russian Information Minister who says "He (Litvinenko) probably poisoned himself for the attention .. Read more
Published on May 12, 2010 by doppelganger
5.0 out of 5 stars
There is absolutely no substitute for self-government - none.
The point both Yuri & Alexander make in there fine investigative journalism, is that Putin had deliberately destroyed the intial shoots of self-government in Russia & he now... Read more
Published on October 17, 2009 by R. A. Barricklow
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still Relevant!
I simply read the first chapter which was more than enough! The old KGB simply has played a shell game of reorganization. Read more
Published on November 4, 2008 by Alexander Greer
3.0 out of 5 stars
Important and intriguing, despite major weaknesses
As several customer review's allready have pointed out - this is a book with an agenda. It does not help that the authors to a great extent refuse to reveal their sources, but want... Read more
Published on May 24, 2008 by Jan Řystein Thorsnas
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hear the Axes Grind Between the Lines
Interesting that a man who denounces the Russian FSB as a nest of intriguers and liars asks us - as a career KGB/FSB officer - to accept his words in this book at face value. Read more
Published on September 15, 2007 by R. L. Huff
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hard to Read
It's easy to see why Litvinenko was poisoned with Polonium when you read this book. It's laden with so many evil plots it leaves the reader with doubts about the authenticity of... Read more
Published on April 15, 2007 by Wm Hawthorne
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tragic Tale
This book is not about the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. But it is the book that got him murdered. Read more
Published on March 15, 2007 by Catholic Reader
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