FSB Day, like any holiday of this kind, is celebrated every year on the same day. In this case, this 20 December. True, employees of all special services are usually honored on this day, that is, not only the FSB officers themselves, but also external intelligence officers from the Foreign Intelligence Service, as well as employees of the Federal Security Service (FSO). Therefore, the holiday also has a second name: it is also customary to call it the Day of an employee of state security agencies.
history of the holiday
It was 26 years ago, or rather in December 1995, that the Federation received one more public holiday: then, now the former head of our state, Boris Yeltsin, signed a document proposing the creation in Our Country of the Day of an employee of state security agencies.
December 20 was chosen as the date of celebration. This is explained by the fact that on this day in 1917 the Council of People’s Commissars created the Cheka (All- Emergency Commission). It is this date that is now considered the birthday of all modern special services.
Meanwhile, subsequently, the Cheka was repeatedly renamed and reorganized. In 1922 it became the State Political Directorate (GPU). A little later, the word “united” was added to the name of the latter, resulting in the OGPU.
In 1934, the famous NKVD, the People’s Commissar of Internal Affairs, appeared. And the OGPU was renamed again (it became known as the Main Directorate of State Security or GUGB) and made it a structural unit of the NKVD.
In 1943, the People’s Commissar for State Security (NKGB) was separated from the NKVD, which three years later became a ministry – the MGB.
And in 1954, all units that were somehow related to state security were expelled from the MGB, uniting them into the State Security Committee (KGB). However, in 1991, the KGB was gone, and only in 1993 did its analogue appear – the Federal Counterintelligence Service (FSK). And two years later, they decided to replace the word “counterintelligence” with “security”, as a result of which the special service received the familiar name of the FSB.
Traditions of FSB Day
On this day, all national security defenders accept congratulations from their closest people, relatives and, of course, colleagues.
In addition, solemn meetings are held on December 20 and concerts are organized in honor of special services officers, at which singers, actors and other artists, in addition to their leaders and politicians, congratulate the main heroes of the occasion. At the same time, medals, orders, badges, as well as certificates of honor and letters of thanks are awarded to the best representatives of the profession.
By the way, every December 20, the Kremlin traditionally hosts a gala evening dedicated to the Day of the Special Services, which, as a rule, is attended by the President of the Federation himself.
In addition, on FSB Day, meetings are held with veterans of the special services, at which the latter recall the past and share their experience with those who are just starting their service.