The State Duma allowed the Russian Guard to create volunteer formations

The State Duma on Tuesday approved in the first reading three bills on the right of the Russian Guard to create its own volunteer formations, similar to the Ministry of Defense. The communists expressed concern that such an approach could lead to duplication of functions of the two structures and the emergence of a second power bloc in the country. However, the co-author of the bills, Alexander Khinshtein, decisively dismissed these concerns, saying that even talking about possible interdepartmental disputes is “dangerous and unacceptable.”

A package of five bills allowing the Russian Guard create its volunteer formations, was introduced to the Duma by a group of United Russia deputies and senators on September 22. Among the authors are the heads of the Duma committees Andrei Kartapolov (on defense), Vasily Piskarev (on security) and Alexander Khinshtein (on information policy).

According to the bill, as in the case of the military department, volunteer formations can be created by the Russian Guard based on the decision of the president.

Volunteers who entered into contracts with the Russian Guard to participate in a special operation in Ukraine will be given the status of combat veterans.

In addition to the main bill, deputies considered amendments to Labor And Tax codes that extend to citizens serving in volunteer formations of the Russian Guard and members of their families the same amount of social guarantees, benefits and compensation that are provided to volunteers entering into contracts with the Ministry of Defense. Two more bills from the package – amendments to the Criminal Code (UK) and Code of Administrative Violations (Administrative Code), protecting volunteers in the structure of the Russian Guard from discredit and fakes, the chamber plans to consider on October 19. The relevant State Duma Committee on Legislation on Monday already recommended them for adoption.

Alexander Khinshtein, speaking on the bill, noted that they were “suffered by life itself and are a reaction to current events.”

He also publicly denied rumors that this initiative “is an attempt to legalize the transition of the Wagner PMC and other private military companies under the auspices of the Russian Guard.” “The contract will have to be concluded by a citizen. Undoubtedly, this citizen could also be a former employee of a private military company, but in each specific case this will be decided individually,” the deputy emphasized. He explained the purpose of the bills: “Today, the Russian Guard in the zone of special military operation and in the liberated territories and border regions carries out a wide range of tasks and, together with military personnel of the Ministry of Defense, takes part in hostilities. This means that the Russian Guard must have all the functionality to effectively carry out the tasks assigned to this presidential structure.” He emphasized that “the National Guard members show an example of exceptional courage, heroism and self-sacrifice.”

Deputy Yuri Shvytkin (ER), “as a former commander of riot police and SOBR,” thanked the developers of the bills and asked “whether there will be further expansion of the legislative framework in this direction.” Alexander Khinshtein replied that “there is no new essence here” and if the norms are expanded, it will be in sync with the legislation on volunteer formations within the Ministry of Defense.

Another former OMON commander, Vyacheslav Markhaev (KPRF), expressed the opinion that there could be a duplication of powers between the Ministry of Defense and the National Guard and “the creation of a second power bloc in the country.”

“We are talking not only about competition in the matter of obtaining government orders, but also about a possible confrontation between these two structures. As a former riot police commander, I ask the question: why does the country need two security forces with absolutely identical functions and powers?” — the deputy asked. “As a former OMON commander, I recommend that you read the federal laws on the National Guard troops, from which you will learn what tasks they face, what powers are assigned to them,” answered Alexander Khinshtein, categorically disagreeing with the thesis about duplication of functions. “And the fact that your former colleagues are taking part in hostilities today is, as they say, not because of a good life,” said the United Russia member. And he emphasized that the leadership of both the Armed Forces and the Russian Guard is exercised by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, that is, the president, “and one should not take on the task of determining what tasks to assign to him and what commands to give.” Mr. Khinshtein considers even the talk about the emergence of “any interdepartmental disputes” to be “very dangerous and unacceptable.”

Nevertheless, another communist, Alexei Kurinny, also doubted the need for additional formations.

In response, Alexander Khinshtein recalled the history of the Great Patriotic War, when, along with the Red Army, NKVD troops took part in the hostilities, “not retreating without an order from any point.”

Vasily Vlasov, speaking from the LDPR faction, noted that “many people who are now paying off their debt in private military companies were waiting for this bill.” According to him, many fighters from the Wagner PMC are now “on a well-deserved rest,” but are ready to enter into contracts, including with the Russian Guard. The deputy pointed out the problem with red tape when issuing combat veteran certificates to the soldiers of the Wagner PMC. In his opinion, if this issue were resolved, the fighters “would be happy to sign a contract and would benefit their homeland.”

Viktor Sobolev (Communist Party of the Russian Federation) named the principles of warfare: centralized control, careful planning of military operations, iron military discipline. “In order for all these principles to be implemented, there must be a unified organizational and staffing structure in the Armed Forces. That’s when this army becomes legendary and invincible,” the deputy emphasized. He noted that even in the Armed Forces the status of volunteers has not been fully determined, and now they are “seemingly plugging holes.”

Despite doubts voiced in some speeches, all three bills were adopted unanimously.

Ksenia Veretennikova