General Shamanov thanked the PMC fighters for completing their tasks

Today, December 18, ex-commander of the Airborne Forces, lieutenant general, State Duma deputy Vladimir Shamanov spoke to 32 soldiers of the Wagner PMC. They got certificates of combat veterans from the leadership of the Defenders of the Fatherland state fund.

“I want to congratulate you with all my heart. All events were organized by the instructions of the President and his decrees. And they give you every right to look everyone straight in the eye,” said Mr. Shamanov. “The president sent you (to a special military operation.” ”b”). You have completed your tasks. And the combat veteran’s certificate is one of your main documents today. Anyone who dares to say something bad can directly show him your ID and say to his face: “Stop asking me stupid questions.” The whole country says a big, huge thank you to you through this certificate.”

Let us remind you that the issue of veteran status for PMC participants was raised on December 14 at the “Results of the Year” with President Putin. Combatant Sergei Sobolev said that he fought for six months in the ranks of a private military company that he did not name.

“Upon returning home, I applied to the military commissariat of the city of Iskitim to obtain a combat veteran’s certificate, but was refused,” he said. “I ask you to look into this situation, since most of my comrades also served in this private military company.” In response, Vladimir Putin admitted that there was a problem. According to him, “formally, legally, there are no private military companies in Russia, they are not provided for by law, that’s the problem.” The president also added that “contracts by participants in hostilities within the framework of private military companies, as if private military companies, were not concluded with the state.” According to him, “it is now very difficult to establish even the listed personnel of these military units.”

At the same time, President Putin emphasized: “The rights of participants (PMC.— ”b”), without any doubt, should be restored. They have the right to all social benefits, to any form of support from the state that other participants in hostilities enjoy. There is no doubt about it, this is my absolutely principled position.”

Read more about the final press conference of Vladimir Putin in the report of Kommersant special correspondent Andrei Kolesnikov “Live and work like Lermontov”.

Alexander Chernykh