On May 6, 1922, in recognition of the activation of foreign secret services in Soviet Russia, the leadership of the State Political Administration of the RSFSR took a decision to establish a special unit in the GPU structure for combating foreign espionage, referred to as the V Counterintelligence Division of GPU and its local authorities. Counterintelligence units were engaged in fighting subversive activities of foreign intelligence services, foreign emigrant centers, political banditry, smuggling and illegal border crossing.
The postage stamps provide portraits of prominent counterintelligence officers: P. Fedotov, E. Pitovranov, O. Gribanov, G. Grigorenko, and I. Markelov, and the symbol of the state security agencies – the sword and the shield. The design of the coupon features the emblem of the Counterintelligence Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation and the jubilee lapel badge "100th Anniversary of Counter-intelligence Services". The margins present images of the buildings in Lubyanka Square when the VChK of the RSFSR SNK started working there in 1919 and its current guise after the reconstruction.
| Paper |
Printing method |
Perforation |
Format of the stamp |
Edition |
| Chalk surfaced |
Offset + security system |
Comb 12¼:12 |
42 × 30 mm |
37 thousand stamps |