Putin has warned of the risk of provocative actions against Russia during the forthcoming elections of 2016 and 2018

MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. Russian counter-intelligence service put an end last year to activities of over 300 foreign intelligence agents on the territory of Russia, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. "Counter-intelligence bodies worked effectively and promptly last year, putting an end to the activities of 52 foreign intelligence officers and 290 agents as a result of special operations," Vladimir Putin said.

"It is extremely important today to improve the protection system of data related to state secrets, prevent leaks of information concerning the military organization, mobilization plans, industrial and defense technologies," Putin said addressing the board meeting of the Federal Security Service (FSB). Moscow has always had and will have an adequate response to anti-Russian actions, the president said. "All means are used for the so-called restriction of Russia, from political isolation attemps and economic pressure to major information war and instruments of special services," he said at the meeting. "These tricks do not work with Russia, have never worked and will not work in the future," Putin said. Provocations against Russia possible during 2016, 2018 elections Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of the risk of provocative actions against Russia during the forthcoming elections of 2016 and 2018. Speaking at a board meeting of the federal security service FSB on Thursday he demanded quashing such destabilization attempts. "There have been continued attempts by Western secret services for using non-governmental organizations and politicized associations for their purposes first and foremost for discrediting the authorities and destabilizing the internal situation in Russia," Putin said. He warned there were plans for such actions during the forthcoming election campaigns of 2016 and 2018.

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