Chekist Day: on guard for what?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Chekist Day is an unofficial, but beloved by the people, name for the Day of security workers in our country. It was established back in 1995 by B. Yeltsin, who was then President of Russia. On December 20, everyone who is related to the FSB, FSO, and other security agencies celebrate their holiday.

History of the holiday

The date was not chosen by chance. It was on this day, but only in 1917, that the first All-Russian Extraordinary Commission in the history of the state began to work. It was she who gave the united name to all the “security guards”. A commission was created specifically to combat sabotage and counter-revolution. The very first Chekist of the country was F. Dzerzhinsky. His position was called "Chairman of the Cheka." Of course, the activities of the Cheka, like many things in the history of our country, were ambiguous. On the one hand, in an effort to build communism, the Cheka became a punitive organization in the service of the Communist Party. Called to fight the enemies of the revolution, the commission sought to destroy the old order, the familiar social structures. Sometimes entire social communities or peoples became victims of the Cheka. This is precisely what the opponents of the communists emphasize when they organize their rallies on the Day of the Chekists. However, one cannot give up one's past, just asyou can not see only the negative sides in history. On the Day of the Chekist, we must remember that the Cheka fulfilled its duty: with all its might, it supported the government by which it was created. Chekists cannot pay for the mistakes made by the authorities, to be extreme in the history of the country. It was this idea that V. Putin especially emphasized, speaking on the Day of the Chekist in front of the best representatives of the security services.

Putin also noted that, developing together with the state, service workers have always remained true to their duty, and this is their main merit and pride. Over time, the task of the Chekists has changed. Today they do not suppress the rights of Russian citizens and their freedoms, but support the Constitution.

Who are considered Chekists today?

In the USSR, all those who celebrate Chekist Day today belonged to one organization: the State Security Committee.

With the collapse of the country, the KGB also changed its structure. Chekist Day-2013 was celebrated by everyone who serves in foreign intelligence (SVR), works in the Security Council (FSB), is related to the federal security service (FSO) or implements special presidential programs. Congratulations on the Day of the Chekist are annually pronounced by the President, emphasizing the importance of the security services. In honor of employees in the relevant bodies, festive concerts are organized on all stages of the country. Congratulations to professionals and relatives. After all, for them, all security officers are, first of all, loved ones, close people.

Minority opinion

By the way, some historians, based on Putin's words about the fundamental dissimilarity of today's security agencies to the Cheka, suggest moving Chekist Day to July 15th. On this day, in 1826, Nikolai was the first to create the Third Department, which was also involved in security. He told his boss Benckendorff that the more tears he dried, the more faithfully he would serve the king. These words are always contrasted with the tough, "punitive" task that Lenin set for the Chekists.