Mikhail Fradkov, a former Russian prime minister, was appointed the head of the Russian foreign intelligence service by President Vladimir Putin. He is to replace outgoing Sergei Lebedev, who occupied the post since 2000 and was selected Friday to head the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Putin made the announcement at the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in the Tajikistan capital Dunshanbe, the Russian agency Interfax reported. Putin had dismissed Fradkov from his post as Russia's prime minister in mid-September on grounds that he needed a new government in preparing for next winter's parliamentary and presidential elections.

"You all know well the man, who will head the Russian foreign intelligence service - this is Mikhail Fradkov," said Putin. The Foreign Intelligence Service is one of the successors to the Soviet Union's KGB. Putin is a former KGB agent himself.

The Russian foreign intelligence service, known for its Russian initials: SVR, is comparable in size and activity to the US intelligence agency CIA. By varying estimates, the SVR has 10,000 to 15,000 employees. In recent years, Western intelligence agencies had recorded increased activity by SVR agents in the new European Union member states.

Mikhail Yefimovich Fradkov was the Prime Minister of Russia from March 2004 to September 2007. He was born in a family of Jewish origin. During his tenure, he was praised as experienced, professional, and honest, and was nominated by Putin from outside his inner circle. Fradkov was previously Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, Russia's representative to General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in Geneva, Minister of Trade and director of the Federal Tax Police, among others. He was also Russia's representative to the European Union.