VID
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Веритатски Информатсионноые Директсия Veritatski Informatsionnoye Direktsiya | |
Agency overview | |
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Formed | June 2, 1929 |
Type | domestic and foreign intelligence agency |
Jurisdiction | Velikoslavia |
Headquarters | Phi Building, Kollavik |
Motto | Vigilant when no others are" |
Employees | 7,000 |
Agency executives |
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Parent agency | Tsar of Velikoslavia |
The VID (Velikoslavian: Веритатски Информатсионноые Директсия) is the primary Security agency of the Tsardom of Velikoslavia. It is a monolithic organization that operates outside of the chain Velikoslavian bureaucracy, answering directly to the Tsar of Velikoslavia and the Statsministris of Velikoslavia. The VID focuses on domestic intelligence, foreign intelligence, counter-intelligence, electronic warfare, government communications security, and operative-investigatory operations.
The organization has a long and oftentimes controversial history, starting out as a secret police force under Alexis IV, which was used to suppress dissent amongst the populace until it was reformed under Nicholas I in 1974, where its extra judicial powers were removed. Despite several reforms, the organization still has a storied history of allegedly being involved in many clandestine operations. The directive has been the subject of many controversies, including human rights violations, wiretapping, propaganda, and allegations of weapons trafficking.
Despite all VID records being kept extensively classified, in recent years Alexis V has officially released some of the directive's older records, including operations committed during both Partisan Wars.
Purpose
The primary purpose of the VID is to collect, analyze, evaluate, and disseminate foreign intelligence, and to carry out covert operations. Previously, the agency also focused on judicial enforcement via the secret police arm, though this was disbanded in 1974.
Today, the VID has five priorities.
- Counterterrorism
- Indications and warnings for senior policymakers
- Counterintelligence
- Cyber intelligence
- Internal intelligence gathering, security, and monitoring
Organizational structure
Directorate
The VID Director is appointed directly by the Tsar and is considered a lifetime position, reporting directly to the palace. In practice, the position typically interfaces with the Statsministris. Below that is the Vice Director, who is appointed by the Director, though the Statsministris is often involved in suggesting the appointment. The highest non-appointed position is the Chairman of Agency Operations, who is third in rank. The Chairman position oversees the day to day operations of the various offices of the agency and oftentimes speaks for the Director and Vice Director on day to day affairs. The Director's primary role is to interface with the upper levels of government directly, whereas the Vice Director is the primary official responsible for coordinating with and assisting the military and law enforcement agencies.
The agency is divided into seven different departments known as "sub offices". Each sub office has a "sub director" who is appointed by the Director of the agency. Each of these arms plays a specific role for the agency, tasked with carrying out a certain overall mission. Historically, the agency had eight sub offices, but the Office of Judicial Enforcement was disbanded in 1974 when the agency was further reformed.
Office of Domestic Intelligence
The Office of Domestic Intelligence is responsible for "assisting military and law enforcement agencies in the role of maintaining order within the realm." The office has multiple sub offices which carry out various roles within the agency. New sub offices can also be created as necessary to handle a specific mission by the upper echelons of the agency. ODI's jurisdiction involves all areas of domestic intelligence gathering and operations. This typically revolves around keeping an eye on internal security threats and monitoring their movements via data collection and surveillance. Internal counterterrorism operations also make up a key part of the office's operations.
Office of Foreign Intelligence
The Office of Foreign Intelligence, or OFI, handles foreign operations and intelligence collection. As one of the most controversial of the branches, the OFI has been known to be in the middle of many diplomatic incidents.
Office of Counter Intelligence
Office of Analysis
Office of VIP Management
Office of Communications and Support
Training
The VID established its first training facility, the Vertias Academy, in 1931. Following the end of the Cold War with Ludvosiya and the abolishment of the judician arm, training budget was reduced, which had a negative effect on employee retention. Several facilities were closed in response in 1975, reducing the ability new agents. In 1979, in response to reduced training capacity, Director Georg Vykal established University of Intelligence Operations and closed the final Veritas Academy branches that same year. The center holds between 300 and 500 courses each year, training new hires, experienced intelligence officers, and support staff.
For later stage training of student operations officers, there are a number of classified training areas where agents are trained in various operational capacities for service in various offices. Students are selected, and their progress evaluated via a classified training criteria which the VID has never released to the public. Even students are not made aware of the selection criteria, only if they pass or fail.
The primary training facility for the Office of Communications and Support is Ashfurth Training Center, located near Engels. The facility was established in 1967 and has been used by the extensively since at least 1969.
Budget
Though the official VID budget is classified, the government has released spending on individual operations and missions. The VID is the only government agency that is permitted to spend unaccounted government money, called a "black budget". There have been several attempts by the Synod to force the agency to release certain budgetary figures but these measures have all been overridden by the palace. It is known to be at least several billion rupols and is taken from an unknown budgetary source. Throughout the agency's history, budgetary surplus from other departments has often been routed to the VID to increase its resources as needed.
Controversies
The VID has been involved in several notable controversies.