Who protects Medvedev and Putin

Evgeniy Alekseevich Murov.

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Ready to improvise

KP: I'd like to begin by asking you about official improvisation. Journalists often note impromptu behavior during the president's and prime minister's official visits. Not too long ago in Beijing, President Dmitriy Medvedev digressed from his formal visit schedule, started speaking freely with Chinese students and even kissed a girl.

Evgeniy Murov: The president has the right to choose his own style of communication...

Q: And in Yelabuga, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin headed to the factory dining hall out of the blue, took a tray, stood in line and then ate with the workers.

A: That's our leaders' style and they're known for it all over the world. Our job is not to bind them to concrete plans and guarantee their safety. And that's what we do. Of course, we have to be prepared for the unexpected.

Q: The 12th anniversary of the law "On the Protection of the State" passed recently.

A: Yes, the law was ratified in spring 1996.

Q: How have these 12 years guarding the Kremlin influenced the Federal Protective Service?

A: Quite substantially. Previously Russia didn't have an analogous law. The state protective organ was called the Chief Department of State Protection in 1991-1996. It operated on the basis of the State Regulation on the Chief Department of State Protection via a presidential decree. When the federal law was passed, we were given a serious legislative framework to help us do our job.

Q: What exactly did the legislative base give you?

A: A lot. We've established an entire federal department with an optimal structure. We have a well-trained and highly professional staff. We also have the material and technical base required to solve the most complex tasks. Another recent achievement is the effective relationship that has been created among Russia's power structures.

Q: Are you referring to the Presidential Secret Service (SBR), Federal Security Service (FSB) and Interior Ministry (MIA)?

A: Yes, among others. We work together to solve the most difficult, multi-faceted problems facing Russia's leaders.

Q: Several years ago at the Kremlin parade dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Presidential Regiment, we caught a glimpse of the military technology used by the Federal Protective Service for the first time. Which arms are you equipped with now?

A: Well, we're not poorly equipped by any means. Let's put it that way. We've ordered and had the latest special military technology and weapons developed for us. Today, we can say that the Federal Protective Service is highly equipped.

President's and PM's guards

Q: What changes were made to the way protection is organized after Medvedev became president and Putin prime minister?

A: The Federal Protective Service plans and takes all necessary steps to ensure the safety of our nation's leaders in accordance with established procedure. I think here details would be superfluous.

Q: Yes, but nonetheless... The press has reported that "Medvedev and Putin divided their guards."

A: That's of little relevance. Here's why... There were two departments in the early 1990s protecting the state — the Chief Department of State Protection and the Presidential Secret Service. But all duplicity was eliminated when the law "On the Protection of the State" was passed. The Federal Protective Service was organized as a unified state organ and executes a list of tasks as set forth by the law. Time has shown that the merging of these two institutions was justified. The principle of undivided authority is at work. Consequently, issues such as who guards the president and who guards the prime minister don't affect our organization's structure. In a word, nothing's been divided. Everything just happened naturally.

Q: I've been at various events where the president and prime minister have participated. I've noticed that Putin and Medvedev both use their former guards. And in the Kremlin's main building, the same Federal Protective Service officials are working who were there when Putin was president.

A: Well where should they be? Medvedev's current guards have worked with him since he was elected president and the current head of state issued a special decree.

Q: I also noticed that Medvedev and Putin call the officers by their first names: Oleg, Aleksey, Nikolay... That doesn't seem by the book.

A: This really doesn't have much to do with anything. But I think human relations help, not hinder, in such difficult matters as protecting the state.

Q: How do you refer to your officers?

A: Also by name.

Taking threats by the throat

Q: How many people are protected by the Federal Protective Service in Russia?

A: Thirty, including 7 presidential plenipotentiaries in the federal districts. Notice the figure hasn't changed in the past 8 years.

Q: Time and again, the press refers to the "exact" number of individuals who work for the Federal Protective Service as 30,000, 130,000 and sometimes 180,000... How many are there really?

A: Much fewer.

Q: Fewer than 30,000 or 130,000?

A: No comment. But in these situations a bit of history comes to mind. In the early 20th Century, martial law was declared in the regions where Tsar Nikolay II was passing en route to rest in Crimea. Army posts were set up along the railway for as far as the track could be seen. Can you imagine? Our people who protect Russia's leaders during visits are several hundred less than those who guarded Nikolay II.

Q: How do you keep up with president's and prime minister's tough schedules?

A: The schedule is strained. It's a known fact that the president and prime minister are in good physical condition. Our guys follow an analogous regime. We pay special attention to their physical fitness. The Federal Protective Service officers always need to be ready, even when they're under pressure.

Q: Are threats often made to the individuals you protect?

A: Unfortunately, yes. Threats are often made. And this isn't just characteristic of Russia. It's a widespread phenomenon worldwide.

Q: How does the Federal Protective Service react in such instances?

A: Any signal demands careful inspection. The most serious measures must be taken. This is also accomplished by specialists outside our organization, such as the FSB, Foreign Secret Service and other power structures and law enforcement organs. On this note, a share of threats are made by the mentally ill. But every incident is carefully investigated. The details and nuances of all threats are clarified.

Numerous foreign languages

Q: The president, prime minister and other individuals under protection visit many nations throughout the world. What foreign languages does the Federal Protective Service speak?

A: Our goal isn't only to protect Russia's leaders, but also to provide security for high-profile foreign guests. In addition to special training, many Federal Protective Service officers speak the most widespread foreign languages like English, German, French, Spanish and Chinese. This doesn't only mean our employees who work on our leaders' visits abroad, but also those who work on our confidential intergovernmental connections. Today, permanent channels function between world leaders.

Q: So-called "Red Phones?"

A: Yes, that's how journalists call them. The first such connection appeared in the 1960s during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It connected the Kremlin and Washington.

Q: And the devices looked something like old wooden teletypes and were put on display at a Kremlin exhibition dedicated to the 125th anniversary of protecting the state.

A: Yes.

Q: And how do they work now?

A: We utilize the most advanced equipment and computers instead of "wooden teletypes." Our employees who provide Russia's leaders with confidential international connections are very capable people technologically speaking. The Federal Protective Service also provides interrupted, high-quality confidential domestic connections for our leaders. We also have situational centers that receive information about what's happening throughout the world in real time.

Q: Are you referring to the Kremlin's situational center?

A: Such centers aren't only in the Kremlin, but also the regions. Like Saint Petersburg. It certainly came in handy during the 2006 G8 Summit.

Case File

Evgeniy Alekseevich Murov was born in 1945 in Zvenigorod in the Moscow region. He has both a higher technological and higher special education. In 1974-1992, he worked in state protective organs and spent 3.5 years in Southeastern Asia. In 1992-1997, Murov headed regional FSB subdivisions in Saint Petersburg. From 1997, he served as the head of management at the FSB in Saint Petersburg and the outlying region. Murov was the first deputy head at the Department of Economic Counterintelligence at the FSB headquarters. From May 18, 2000, he served as the director of the Federal Protective Service. He has the rank of general. He is married with an adult son.

Background

Russia's Federal Protective Service comprises which organs:

1. Presidential Secret Service (SBP).

2. Special Vehicle Garage (GON).

3. Special Connections Service.

4. Moscow Kremlin Commandant's Service.

5. Presidential Regiment.

6. Presidential Orchestra.

Читайте: Кто и как охраняет Медведева и Путина

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