Putin orders shake-up of FSB chiefs after plot against oligarch Arkadi Rotenberg

Russian media report that Vladimir Putin has initiated a restructuring of the Federal Security Service after senior officers were accused of orchestrating actions against Arkadi Rotenberg’s business network. The purge, described as a "small palace coup," targets officials linked to the Economic Security Service, including Serghei Alpatov, who is said to have lost his post and is on indefinite leave. Nikolai Babakov, the head of the FSB’s Directorate "T," is also rumored to face dismissal.

The shift follows a period in which Rotenberg’s allies, such as Konstantin Mahov and Ilya Traber, were subjected to criminal probes, but were later released after the Kremlin reassessed the accusations. A full list of expected dismissals is anticipated in October, potentially affecting several other officers appointed with Alpatov’s support. The developments highlight internal power struggles within Russia’s security apparatus.