▁the ▁houses ▁of ▁the ▁Federal ▁Assembly : ▁State ▁D uma ▁and ▁Federation ▁Council . ▁ ▁Command ▁structure ▁ ▁According ▁to ▁Article ▁ 1 2 ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁Federal ▁Law ▁" On ▁Foreign ▁Int elligence ", ▁" over all ▁direction " ▁of ▁external ▁intelligence ▁activity ▁is ▁executed ▁by ▁the ▁president ▁of ▁Russia , ▁who ▁appoint s ▁Director ▁of ▁the ▁SV R . ▁ ▁The ▁Director ▁provides ▁regular ▁brief ings ▁to ▁the ▁president . ▁The ▁Director ▁is ▁a ▁permanent ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Security ▁Council ▁of ▁Russia ▁and ▁the ▁Def ense ▁Council . ▁ ▁According ▁to ▁published ▁sources , ▁the ▁SV R ▁included ▁the ▁following ▁director ates ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 0 s : ▁▁ ▁Director ate ▁PR : ▁Political ▁Int elligence : ▁In cluded ▁sevent een ▁depart ments , ▁each ▁responsible ▁for ▁different ▁countries ▁of ▁the ▁world ▁( esp ion age ▁in ▁the ▁US , ▁Canada , ▁Latin ▁America , ▁etc .) ▁ ▁Director ate ▁S : ▁Il legal ▁Int elligence : ▁In cluded ▁th ir teen ▁depart ments ▁responsible ▁for ▁prepar ing ▁and ▁plant ing ▁" il legal ▁agents " ▁abroad , ▁" bi ological ▁esp ion age ", ▁rec ruit ment ▁of ▁foreign ▁citizens ▁on ▁the ▁Russian ▁territory ▁and ▁other ▁duties . ▁ ▁Director ate ▁X : ▁Scient ific ▁and ▁Techn ical ▁Int elligence ▁ ▁Director ate ▁K R : ▁External ▁C ounter - Int elligence : ▁This ▁Director ate ▁" car ries ▁out ▁in fil tr ation ▁of ▁foreign ▁intelligence ▁and ▁security ▁services ▁and ▁exer cis es