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Security Information Service Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_Information_Service

Security Information Service
Bezpečnostní informační služba
(BIS)
Seal of the Security Information Service
Agency overview
Formed30 July 1994
Preceding agencies
  • Security Information Service of the Czech Republic (1992)
  • (Czechoslovak) Federal Security Information Service
JurisdictionGovernment of the Czech Republic
HeadquartersPrague, Czech Republic
50°3′16.51″N 14°20′11.98″E / 50.0545861°N 14.3366611°E / 50.0545861; 14.3366611
MottoAudi, Vide, Tace
 (Hear, See, Be silent)
Employees1,000 (2019 estimate)[1]
Annual budget$65 million (as of 2017)[2]
Agency executive
Parent agencyGovernment of the Czech Republic
Websitewww.bis.cz

The Security Information Service (BIS, Czech: Bezpečnostní informační služba) is the primary domestic national intelligence agency of the Czech Republic.[3] It is responsible for collecting, analyzing, reporting and disseminating intelligence on threats to Czech Republic's national security, and conducting operations, covert and overt, both domestically and abroad. It also reports to and advises the Government of the Czech Republic on national security issues and situations that threaten the security of the nation.

The BIS headquarters is located in Stodůlky, Prague 5. The Security Information Service reports directly to the Government, Prime Minister and President of the Czech Republic and is overseen by the Permanent Commission of the Chamber of Deputies.[a] It is under the command of the Government and organized militarily.

Command, control and organization

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The BIS is a statutory body under the Act No. 154/1994 Coll., on the Security Information Service and it is strictly apolitical and has limited police powers; BIS can detain, arrest or interrogate suspects only as part of its internal oversight.[5] The service reports to the Government, Prime Minister and President of the Czech Republic and its activities are regulated and overseen by the Government, Permanent Commission of the Chamber of Deputies and its own internal audit.[6] The service is headed by the Director who is appointed by the Prime Minister with consent of the Committee on Security of the Chamber of Deputies.[7]

The current director is Michal Koudelka [cs], who has served since 15 August 2016, after being sworn in by Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka.[8]

Duties

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The Security Information Service performs duties associated with the analysis, democracy and constitutionality, terrorism, counter-intelligence, cybersecurity, organized crime, proliferation and use of strategically important intelligence regarding the fields of politics, economics and intelligence within the territory of the Czech Republic.[9]

2014 Vrbětice ammunition warehouse explosions

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In 2014, two explosions occurred at ammunition depots in Vrbětice, Czech Republic—the first on October 16 and the second on December 3—resulting in two fatalities and extensive damage. Subsequent investigations by Czech authorities revealed that agents from Russia's GRU Unit 29155 were involved, allegedly aiming to disrupt weapons supplies to Ukraine. The cleanup of unexploded ordnance concluded in October 2020.[10][11][12]

2025 events

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In March 2025 revelation by Czech intelligence services of a covert Russian operation involving Belarusian journalist Natalia Sudliankova, identified as a key collaborator for Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU. Active in the Czech Republic since 1999, Sudliankova allegedly published GRU-directed content, collaborated with pro-Kremlin organizations, and received crypto payments for espionage-related activities. Her expulsion, along with sanctions against her and GRU officer Alexey Shavrov, marked a major escalation in Czech efforts to counter Russian influence, highlighting the persistent threat of foreign intelligence operations in Europe.[13][14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Bělobrádek: BIS se daří odhalovat nebezpečí i nabírat lidi". ČTK (in Czech). Archived from the original on 2020-09-27. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  2. ^ "Zákon o státním rozpočtu České republiky na rok 2017" (in Czech). Retrieved 2017-02-18.
  3. ^ "What we do". BIS. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  4. ^ "Permanent Commission on Oversight over the work of the Security Information Service". Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  5. ^ "Inspection Department". www.bis.cz. n.d. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  6. ^ "Audit and Oversight". BIS. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
  7. ^ Spurný, Jaroslav (2014-02-26). "Věrná služba ředitele BIS". Týdeník Respekt (in Czech). Respekt.cz. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
  8. ^ Fraňková, Ruth (2016-08-15). "Michal Koudelka becomes new head of counter-intelligence service". Czech Radio. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
  9. ^ "About us". BIS. n.d. Archived from the original on 2015-09-26. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  10. ^ Kraevskaya, Tatiana (2024-04-29). "Czech police: Russian GRU was behind 2014 explosions at Vrbetice ammunition depot. Case postponed". Ukrainian National News (UNN). Retrieved 2025-04-06.
  11. ^ "How did Unit 29155 of the Russian GRU try to intervene in Ukraine through the Czech Republic and Bulgaria?". 2021. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  12. ^ Team, Bellingcat Investigation (2021-04-20). "Senior GRU Leader Directly Involved With Czech Arms Depot Explosion". bellingcat. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
  13. ^ "Czech counterintelligence uncovers Belarusian agent working for Russia's GRU in Prague". Radio Prague. 2025-04-03. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
  14. ^ "Czech Republic to expel Belarusian national — longtime resident and ex-Radio Liberty journalist — over GRU ties". The Insider (in Russian). Retrieved 2025-04-06.
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Notes

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  1. ^ The official translated name into English is the Permanent Commission on Oversight over the work of the Security Information Service.[4]