Top managers at Russia’s Central Bank may soon carry weapons such as submachine guns, according to a draft government proposal prepared by Vladimir Putin‘s internal security force, the National Guard, Russian media have reported.
The National Guard, or Rosgvardiya, is Putin’s internal military force and is responsible for the protection of state buildings, as well as domestic security. It reports directly to the Russian president.
The Central Bank sets the key interest rate and has been guiding the country through the economic fallout of sanctions as it grapples with an overheating wartime economy, accelerated by labor market shortages and inflation.
News outlets RBC, Izvestia and Argumenti Nedeli and the Russian-language version of The Moscow Times reported that Rosgvardiya had consulted on a government document recommending that chiefs at the financial institution should get weapons. At the moment, only security staff at the Central Bank such as those who transport money have the right to carry weapons, the outlets said.
Newsweek was unable to access the Russian government draft decree directly and has contacted the country’s Central Bank for comment.
However, the institution told the business news outlet RBC that the draft government decree to extend it to its chiefs “was discussed with the National Guard among issues related to ensuring the protection of facilities and employees of the Bank of Russia in new regions.”
Those who could get the arms include the bank’s deputy chairs and their advisers, branch managers, as well as department directors who can be provided with a service pistol or a submachine gun. Russian media reported that there are three first deputy chairs and nine deputy chairs at the institution.
However, the head of the Central Bank, Elvira Nabiullina, who is widely credited for steering Russia’s economy through the turbulence of isolation from the global financial system due to the ongoing war, is not on the list of those who may be offered the weapons, according to the outlets.
The Economist reported in May that Nabiullina’s personal security has been stepped up since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine after which she briefly raised the key rate to 20 percent.
Possible weapons for the bank chiefs could be the Makarov, Yarygin and Glock pistols, as well as Kedr, Vityaz and Kiparis submachine guns.
Kalashnikov assault rifles of various models are also mentioned, according to the Russian media reports. None of the news outlets said when the proposal may come into force.
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