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They would take one of their previously convicted agents and put him on the wanted list as a person who had committed an especially grave crime. After that, they would identify an office where a large amount of "black" money was flowing. The agent's task was simply to enter this office. And say to the secretary: "I would like to meet with so-and-so." — "On what matter?" — "I'll tell him personally." His task was to stay in the premises for about five minutes.

As soon as the agent enters the office, a few minutes later the militia bursts in, everyone is detained, and documents are checked. Naturally, the firm's management asks: "What happened? What's the matter?" — "Well, a man wanted for a mass of murders is hiding here at your firm." Everyone, naturally, is outraged: "But he's not one of ours. We don't know how he got here." The militia says sternly: "Everyone says that. It would be strange if you said you knew how he got here."

And a search begins for the purpose of establishing physical evidence. Naturally, they find unaccounted-for cash. "And what is this money?" they ask. "You understand, it's like this and that." The result: the money is either split, or they just take it all and leave. And who is going to file a report? The cash is "black," after all. It's a proven method, works flawlessly...

In 1991, ideology "evaporated." And state security was left without a master. Like a dog. All of this began to ferment and boil. No one cared what was happening there.

But the ownerless KGB-FSK-FSB automatically continued to collect information. And information is a commodity! Whoever has the information has the power. With it, one could resolve issues in the market, pressure competitors. And the FSB entered the market—covertly, unofficially, but it entered.

When the first capitals appeared, force became necessary for their protection. The courts weren't working, nor were the laws. How can a business operate without courts and laws? If a partner screwed you over, a creditor didn't pay, a supplier cheated you—who do you complain to? Not to mention primitive racketeering, which you have to protect yourself from. Thus, force also became a commodity; there was a demand for it. "Kryshas" [protection rackets] emerged. First bandit ones, then militia ones, and then our guys figured out what was what, and the competition began between the bandits, the cops, and the Office [the FSB]...

Previously, they trained terrorists for the event of war in various countries. Now I don't know what for. Spetsnaz in the tax police, in the militia, in water transport, in the militia for the protection of the metro, in customs. Everywhere. Everywhere you spit, there's spets, spets, spets [special forces].

My grandfather laughs and says: "In Nalchik before the revolution, there was one policeman and one prosecutor, and there was order. But now there are so many different departments, everyone in uniform, with IDs, but there's nowhere to file a report."

Special forces were created in order to go to "strelki" [gangland showdowns]. I had information about the "Vityaz" unit. Officers go out to a bandit showdown, and the soldiers stand there in civilian clothes. They are brought out for mass [intimidation]. Then each soldier is given twenty dollars: "Go to