Security Information Service

Command, control and organization

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. 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. 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.

The current director is , who has served since 15 August 2016, after being sworn in by Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka.

Duties

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.

2014 Vrbětice ammunition warehouse explosions

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.

2025 events

Main article: 2025 GRU Exposure in Prague

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.

References

Notes

References

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