Russian Central Bank Executives to arm themselves with military weapons

The Russian National Guard wants the top management of the Central Bank of Russia to have the right to carry military weapons. According to the draft resolution, the "armed" personnel would include vice presidents and their advisors, branch managers, department directors, and deputies. All will be equipped with either a service pistol or a submachine gun.

The Central Bank's board includes three first deputy presidents, Olga Skorobogatova, Dmitry Tulin, and Vladimir Chistiukhin, and four vice presidents, Filip Gabunia, Alexey Guznov, Alexey Zabotkin, and Olga Polakova.

"Thus, more than half of the board of the regulatory body will have the right to carry weapons," writes "The Moscow Times."

Meanwhile, the president of the Central Bank of Russia cannot possess a weapon. Currently, this position is held by Elvira Nabiullina. In June, "The Economist" magazine reported that her security was strengthened after a record hike in the prime interest rate to 20% in February 2022.

According to the publication, Nabiullina's measures to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions "were bold enough that it was necessary to increase the head of the Bank of Russia's number of bodyguards."

Under the current version of the law, weapons are exclusively for security staff and couriers responsible for transporting cash at the Central Bank.

The top managers of the Central Bank will be able to choose from 12 types of weapons, including Makarov and Yarygin pistols, various kinds of Glock, and PP-19-01 "Vityaz," PP-2000, and PP-91 "Kedr" submachine guns, among others. They will also receive two loaded magazines. The weapons will need to be checked twice a year.