Power struggle in Russia: in November 2003, heavily armed special security forces arrested a rich Russian tycoon on an airplane at gun-point. The Swiss Federal Prosecution Office was requested to provide legal assistance by freezing bank accounts of an astronomic CHF6.2 billion. Find out more.

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Power struggle in Russia: in November 2003, heavily armed special security forces arrested a rich Russian tycoon on an airplane at gun-point. The Swiss Federal Prosecution Office was requested to provide legal assistance by freezing bank accounts of an astronomic CHF6.2 billion. Find out more.

Once upon a time there were two poor boys in Russia. Born in 1952, Vladimir grew up in a shabby, rat-infested housing estate in Leningrad, where his mother had almost starved during the World War II siege of the city. Even in his childhood, the seemingly frail and inconspicuous boy prowled around the Leningrad KGB headquarters. He admired power--and in the Soviet Union, the secret services held it.

To improve his physical fitness, the aspiring 007 took up Judo and became a successful Judo wrestler. Rather amused by his incessant approaches to them, KGB operatives gave him an invaluable tip by recommending the study of law as an entrance ticket to the secret services. Finally, his sticking around the KGB people paid off and Vladmir Putin being was hired as an agent.

As a typical conformist 'apparatchik' he fitted well...

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