Khinshtein announced the preparation of amendments on volunteer formations in the Russian Guard

A group of deputies and senators has prepared a package of amendments that allow the Russian Guard to include volunteer formations, reported Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy Alexander Khinshtein.

The deputy explained that the Russian Guard is actively participating in the special operation and performs tasks similar to the Ministry of Defense. In this regard, the authors of the bill propose to extend to the department all the powers that the Ministry of Defense has. The package of amendments is planned to be submitted to the State Duma on September 22. Khinshtein explained that the bill was developed “together with colleagues in the State Duma and the Federation Council.”

According to the bill, the Russian Guard will be able to create volunteer formations by decision of the president. “They can be involved in carrying out individual tasks in the field of defense during the period of mobilization, martial law, in conditions of armed conflict, during counter-terrorism operations, etc.,” Khinshtein wrote in his Telegram channel.

It is also proposed to extend to Russian National Guard volunteers all the legal and social guarantees that Ministry of Defense volunteers have.

“I would like to point out right away: our proposals have nothing to do with the rumors that have appeared recently about the transfer of former units of the Wagner PMC to the Russian Guard,” the deputy emphasized, noting that, according to his information, this is not true. The bill also gives the Russian Guard the right to conclude contracts only with citizens, and not with organizations.

In November 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed amendments on the creation of volunteer formations by the Ministry of Defense. Volunteers are subject to the status of contract military personnel. Volunteer formations will assist in “fulfilling the tasks assigned to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the period of mobilization, martial law, in wartime, in the event of armed conflicts, during counter-terrorism operations, as well as when using the armed forces of the Russian Federation outside the Russian Federation.”

August 25, 2023 Putin signed a decree according to which volunteers and territorial defense fighters will have to take an oath. According to the text of the decree, members of volunteer formations that take part in the special operation, territorial defense fighters and employees of state enterprises that were created in the regions during martial law will take the oath in front of the flag.