the spies and the revolution

this article by the New York Times (here reproduced on the Charter 97 Belarusian news site, so you don't have to login to the Times) was quite interesting, about how top officials in the ukrainian spy agency actually chose not to thwart the oppositions on the streets of kiev, and in fact helped it along. this probably not only averted bloody riots, but also gave key opposition leaders information that helped their cause. excerpt:

The officers funneled information to Mr. Kuchma`s rivals, provided security to opposition figures and demonstrations, sent choreographed public signals about their unwillingness to follow the administration`s path and engaged in a psychological tug-of-war with state officials to soften responses against the protests. Ultimately, the intelligence agencies worked - usually in secret, sometimes in public, at times illegally - to block the fraudulent ascension of Mr. Yanukovich, whom several of the generals loathe. Directly and indirectly, their work supported Viktor A. Yushchenko...

there was also surveillance of government officials rigging the intitial election that went in favor of yanukovich... which of course partially got out. another quote: " 'Today we can save our faces or our epaulettes, or we can try to save our country,' General Romanchenko and General. Sarnatskyi said they remembered the spy chief saying."