The book is devoted to various aspects of the analytical and practical activities of the Soviet state security agencies in relation to their own “eastern” peoples, as well as the states of the Near and Middle East during the 1920-1980s. It presents published materials reflecting the perception and forms of interaction of the Soviet intelligence services with the “domestic” and foreign East. The publication is addressed to orientalists, historians of the intelligence services, and everyone interested in the history of Russia in the 20th century.