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Zolotov Viktor Vasilievich biography. National Guard




Viktor Vasilievich Zolotov(born January 27, 1954, Sasovo, Ryazan Region, RSFSR, USSR) - Russian military leader, director of the Federal Service of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation - Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation since April 5, 2016, Army General (11/10/2015 .).

First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs - Commander-in-Chief of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (2014-2016); Head of the Security Service of the President of the Russian Federation - Deputy Director of the FSO of Russia (2000-2013).

Biography

Born into a working-class family, in his youth he worked as a mechanic at the AZLK plant. He did military service in the border troops. Since the 1970s worked in the 9th Directorate of the State Security Committee of the USSR (since 1990 - in the Main Security Directorate of the Russian Federation). On August 19, 1991, he guarded the President of the RSFSR Boris Yeltsin during his speech from the armor of a tank.

In the 1990s, he was hired as a bodyguard for the mayor of St. Petersburg, Anatoly Sobchak. At this job, he met Vladimir Putin, who at that time was in the position of deputy mayor. Subsequently, he became close to Putin, began to take part in boxing and judo sparring.

In 1996, Zolotov was fired from the GDO of Russia (FSO of Russia), for some time he worked at the Baltic Escort company as the personal bodyguard of the influential Russian businessman Roman Tsepov (also a former bodyguard of Sobchak and a close friend of Putin).

From 2000 to 2013 - Head of the Security Service of the President of the Russian Federation - Deputy Director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. He replaced Anatoly Kuznetsov in this position. Colonel General (2006).

Graduated from the Law Institute and the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

He was the chairman of the presidium of the all-Russian public organization "Russian National Federation Oyama Kyokushinkai Karate-do".

In September 2013, he was appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

On May 12, 2014, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, he was appointed First Deputy Minister of the Interior of the Russian Federation - Commander-in-Chief of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

The military rank of General of the Army was awarded by decree of the President of Russia V.V. Putin dated November 10, 2015.

On April 5, 2016, by Decree of the President of Russia, he was appointed Director of the Federal Service of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation - Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation. The position is equal in status to that of a federal minister. Viktor Zolotov is included in the Security Council of the Russian Federation as a permanent member. On April 12, 2016, by the Decree of the President, he was transferred to the Security Council.

Awards

  • Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" III and IV degrees
  • Order of Alexander Nevsky
  • Order of Courage
  • Order of Military Merit
  • Order of Friendship
  • Honored Employee of the State Security Bodies of the Russian Federation
  • Order named after Akhmat Kadyrov (2016)
  • Patriarchal sign "700th anniversary of St. Sergius of Radonezh" (July 28, 2014) - in attention to the work for the benefit of the Holy Church
  • Maroon beret - awarded on May 7, 2015 by decision of the Council of military personnel of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia who have the right to wear a maroon beret
  • Honorary citizen of the city of Sasovo.

Family

Daughter Zhanna Zolotova is married to producer Yuri Chechikhin (produced the series "Vorotily" and the film "Circumstances"). Son Roman Zolotov until 2014 served in private security. Also, together with Chechikhin, he produced films, played one of the main roles in the 4-episode film “I have the honor!”. Currently, he is the Deputy Head of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the city of Moscow.

According to some estimates, the market value of real estate and land plots of Viktor Zolotov's family is 750 million rubles. In addition to this, a similar property of Yuri Chechikhin can cost from 523 million to 952.4 million rubles.

Ratings and opinions

“During Putin's two terms, he moved from colonel to colonel general. He entered the closest, closest circle of Putin, ”said the historian of the special services, Boris Volodarsky.


Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard of the Russian Federation.

Viktor Zolotov was born on January 27, 1954 in the city of Sasovo, Ryazan Region. Grew up in a family of workers. In childhood and adolescence, he was actively involved in sports. He paid special attention to martial arts and martial arts. In his youth, he worked as a mechanic at the AZLK plant. Zolotov did military service in the border troops. Since 1970, he worked in the 9th department of the USSR State Security Committee.

Viktor Vasilyevich in 1990 moved to the Main Directorate of Security of the Russian Federation. Since 1990, he was the bodyguard of the mayor of St. Petersburg, Anatoly Sobchak. At this job, he met Vladimir Putin, who at that time was in the position of deputy mayor. Subsequently, he became close to Putin, began to take part in boxing and judo sparring.

On August 19, 1991, Viktor Zolotov was guarding the President of the RSFSR Boris Yeltsin during his speech from the armor of a tank.

In 1996, Zolotov was fired from the Federal Security Service of Russia, for some time he worked at the Baltic Escort company as the personal bodyguard of the influential businessman Roman Tsepov, a close friend of Putin.

From 2000 to 2013 Viktor Vasilyevich Zolotov served as head of the Security Service of the President of the Russian Federation - Deputy Director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. In 2006 he was awarded the rank of Colonel General.

During that period, he also graduated from the Law Institute and the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. He was the chairman of the presidium of the all-Russian public organization "Russian National Federation Oyama Kyokushinkai Karate-do".

In September 2013, he was reassigned to the post of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

On May 12, 2014, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, he was appointed First Deputy Minister of the Interior of the Russian Federation - Commander-in-Chief of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

Military rank - General of the Army was awarded on November 10, 2015, by decree of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin.

On April 5, 2016, by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Viktor Vasilyevich Zolotov was appointed Director of the Federal Service of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation - Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation. The position is equal in status to that of a federal minister. Viktor Zolotov is included in the Security Council of the Russian Federation as a permanent member.

Viktor Zolotov April 6, 2018, the US State Department included in the sanctions "Kremlin list" among the officials and businessmen of Russia close to Putin.

Family of Viktor Zolotov

Daughter Jeanne, married to producer Yuri Chechikhin.

Son Roman, together with Chechikhin, produced films, played one of the main roles in the film “I have the honor!”. In 2007-2015, he worked as Deputy General Director of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Okhrana. Since 2017, he has been the Deputy Head of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the city of Moscow.

Awards Zolotov Viktor Vasilyevich

Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" III and IV degrees

Order of Alexander Nevsky

Order of Courage

Order of Military Merit

Order of Friendship

Honored Employee of the State Security Bodies of the Russian Federation

Order named after Akhmat Kadyrov, 2016.

Patriarchal sign "700th anniversary of St. Sergius of Radonezh" (July 28, 2014) - in attention to the work for the benefit of the Holy Church.

Maroon beret - awarded on May 7, 2015 by decision of the Council of military personnel of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia who have the right to wear a maroon beret.

Honorary citizen of the city of Sasovo.

army General
Zolotov Viktor Vasilievich

Born into a working-class family, in his youth he worked as a mechanic at the AZLK plant. He did military service in the border troops. Since the 1970s worked in the 9th Directorate of the State Security Committee of the USSR (since 1990 - in the Main Security Directorate of the Russian Federation). August 19, 1991 guarded

Head of the Security Service of the President of Russia Viktor Zolotov (pictured right). Ashgabat, 2000

In the 1990s, he was hired as a bodyguard for the mayor of St. Petersburg, Anatoly Sobchak. At this job, he met Vladimir Putin, who at that time was in the position of deputy mayor. Subsequently, he became close to Putin, began to take part in boxing and judo sparring.

In 1996, Zolotov was fired from the GDO of Russia (FSO of Russia), for some time he worked at the Baltic Escort company as the personal bodyguard of the influential Russian businessman Roman Tsepov (also a former bodyguard of Sobchak and a close friend of Putin).

From 2000 to 2013 - Head of the Security Service of the President of the Russian Federation - Deputy Director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. He replaced Anatoly Kuznetsov in this position. Colonel General (2006).

Graduated from the Law Institute and the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

He was the chairman of the presidium of the all-Russian public organization "Russian National Federation Oyama Kyokushinkai Karate-do".

In September 2013, he was appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

On May 12, 2014, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, he was appointed First Deputy Minister of the Interior of the Russian Federation - Commander-in-Chief of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

The military rank of General of the Army was awarded by decree of the President of Russia V.V. Putin dated November 10, 2015.

On April 5, 2016, by Decree of the President of Russia, he was appointed Director of the Federal Service of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation - Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation. The position is equal in status to that of a federal minister. Viktor Zolotov is included in the Security Council of the Russian Federation as a permanent member. On April 12, 2016, by the Decree of the President, he was transferred to the Security Council.

Awards

  • Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" III and IV degrees
  • Order of Alexander Nevsky
  • Order of Courage
  • Order of Military Merit
  • Order of Friendship
  • Honored Employee of the State Security Bodies of the Russian Federation
  • Order named after Akhmat Kadyrov (2016)
  • Patriarchal sign "700th anniversary of St. Sergius of Radonezh" (July 28, 2014) - in consideration of labors for the benefit of the Holy Church
  • Maroon beret - awarded on May 7, 2015 by decision of the Council of military personnel of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia who have the right to wear a maroon beret
  • Honorary citizen of the city of Sasovo

General Viktor Zolotov, who recently became head of the Russian National Guard, has a rich biography. However, most of it is still classified. What do official sources know about this Russian military figure?

Biography of Viktor Zolotov

Viktor Vasilyevich Zolotov was born on 01/27/1954 in the city of Sasovo, which is located in the Ryazan region (RSFSR). He was brought up in a working-class family, after graduating from school he went to work at the AZLK plant as an ordinary locksmith.

Since the beginning of the 1970s, the future general was an employee of the 9th Main Directorate of the USSR State Security Committee. How a young man in his early twenties got into this elite unit, whose task was to protect the first persons of the state, no one knows. Such an invitation, as a rule, was received by those who distinguished themselves while serving in the border troops, the Airborne Forces, and also in the GRU special forces.

In this case, preference was given to people who showed themselves superbly in a combat or critical situation.

What higher educational institution did General Viktor Zolotov graduate from? He received a law degree. In addition, Zolotov graduated from the General Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Personal life and family of Viktor Zolotov

General Viktor Zolotov has a daughter Zhanna. She married producer Yuri Chechikhin, known for such films as "Circumstances" and "Vorotily". Also, General Viktor Zolotov has a son. Until 2014, Roman was a full-time employee of private security. Together with Chechikhin, he produced films, in one of which (“I have the honor”) played one of the main characters. To date, Roman Zolotov works as deputy head of the Moscow Department of Physical Education and Sports.

Viktor Zolotov's career

Putin's appointment as prime minister led to Zolotov's return to the FSO, and in 2000 he became head of the presidential security service. In this capacity, he took an active part in the "war of the security forces" in the middle of the "zero" years on the side of the then head of the Federal Drug Control Service Viktor Cherkesov. At the same time, Zolotov became close to two influential security officials who worked in St. Petersburg in the 1990s. The first - Evgeny Murov - was his immediate superior in the FSO. Before moving to Moscow in 1998, he served as head of the Admiralty regional department of the FSB of St. Petersburg and deputy head of the FSB for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region Cherkesov. After Putin was appointed director of the FSB, Cherkesov and Murov were transferred to the central office of this department, and after Putin was elected president, Murov headed the FSO (he still holds this post).

The second is Andrey Novikov (who was present at the funeral of Tsepov), who headed the criminal investigation department of St. Petersburg in the 90s, and then the Krasnogvardeisky Department of Internal Affairs of the city. In 2001, after the appointment of Boris Gryzlov as Minister of the Interior, Novikov became the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Department, and in 2003 he headed the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the North-Western Federal District. In 2005, Novikov reached the pinnacle of his career, becoming Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, curator of key structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (departments of criminal investigation, economic security, combating organized crime and terrorism). At the same time, information appeared in the press that he could soon become a minister.

However, in 2006, during the “war of the security forces”, Novikov’s federal career was interrupted - he was moved to Minsk to the post of head of the CIS Anti-Terrorist Center, which he still heads. In 2008, Cherkesov lost his post as head of the Federal Drug Control Service. However, the "war of the security forces" had no effect on the careers of Murov and Zolotov. The list of awards - the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, III and IV degrees, Alexander Nevsky, Courage, "For Military Merit", Friendship, testifies to the president's trust in Zolotov. In recent years, representatives of the FSO have been actively expanding their apparatus - natives of this structure are Deputy Interior Minister Dmitry Mironov (curator of the fight against economic crime), Presidential Affairs Manager Alexander Kolpakov, short-lived Deputy Defense Minister, and now Governor of the Tula Region Alexei Dyumin.

After Zolotov was appointed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2013, his successor in the SBP was the first deputy and protege Oleg Klimentyev, who at the end of 2015 was moved to the post of Murov's first deputy in the FSO (he is called a possible successor to the 70-year-old Murov in the event of the latter's resignation). The new head of the SBP was Dmitry Kochnev, whose biography was not made public. It is known, however, that he previously worked under Zolotov in the presidential guard.

Zolotov himself, despite the fame of many pages of his biography (as a result of information campaigns in the first half of the "zero" years), is one of the most "closed" Russian officials. Although the New Times edition back in 2014 found out some details regarding his personality. Former subordinates spoke complimentary about him: “A good professional, smart, demanding of personnel, but he does not give up his own; hospitable, always comes out to meet visitors. One of the sources in the Ministry of Internal Affairs gave Zolotov a description close to Korzhakov's: "Cruel, secretive, ready to do anything to achieve his goal." Another source turned out to be more benevolent: “Inconspicuous, you can’t distinguish this in the crowd, a real KGB officer. Pious, modest, loves dark glasses and black suits, and dresses without pretense, suits could be more expensive; drinks, but never gets drunk, swears in moderation, like everyone else. All observers noted Zolotov's loyalty to Putin.

Zolotov's transition to the internal troops was initially associated with the project of creating the National Guard - initially, his appointment as deputy commander-in-chief of the explosives was considered by some as a demotion, but such assessments did not materialize. As Commander-in-Chief of the VV, in November 2015 he received the rank of Army General. Zolotov's influence is also confirmed by the functions of the National Guard, which are much broader than those of the VV - the corresponding federal service will be engaged in the development of state policy and legal regulation both in the field of activity of the National Guard troops, and in the areas of arms trafficking, private security activities and in non-departmental protection. The status of the head of the service is equivalent to that of a federal minister. OMON, SOBR, FSUE "Protection" are also transferred to the National Guard (by the way, Zolotov's son Roman previously held the leading position in the latter).

Viktor Zolotov's awards

For the entire period of service, Zolotov was awarded the following orders:

  • "Friendship and Courage";
  • "For Merit to the Fatherland" (3rd and 4th degree);
  • "For military merit"; — Alexander Nevsky.

He also has a memorial patriarchal sign "700th anniversary of Sergius of Radonezh".

Among Zolotov's awards there is also a very rare medal. It is called "Defender of Free Russia". The medal bears the inscription "August 21, 1991".

Viktor Zolotov turned to Navalny

"He doesn't like personal attacks and attacks on his family," a National Guard source told The Bell. The FBK's procurement investigation, published in August, was the "last straw" for the general, he thinks. Before that, Navalny talked about the career of Zolotov's children. “It was a personal insult, slander - Viktor Vasilyevich personally answered it,” the source of The Bell explains the logic of the head of the National Guard.

Back in April 2016, Navalny counted real estate from the Zolotov family for 663 million rubles, indicating that the apartment of the daughter of the head of the Russian Guard Zhanna costs 343 million rubles, and his son Roman "either sold or donated" his house in Gelendzhik to the architect of the so-called " Putin's Palace" Lanfranco Cirillo. In the latest investigation, Navalny spoke about contracts for the supply of food for the National Guard for 2 billion rubles, accusing its leadership of overpricing by 2-3 times.

Zolotov appears in the tangled tangle of relationships between government officials, criminals, security officials and businessmen. How a simple guard of the former mayor became the head of the National Guard.

The connection with the "Tambovskaya" organized criminal group was proved during the famous investigation in Spain of the activities of Russian crime bosses. It was then that photographs of Zolotov with St. Petersburg criminals were published.

The National Guard, which Putin announced on April 5, could include up to 400,000 people, Interfax reports, citing unnamed sources. The interlocutor of the agency specifies that soldiers of the Internal Troops, now headed by Viktor Zolotov, who is also the new commander of the National Guard, will turn into 200,000 guardsmen. The rest of the staff will be recruited from special police units and Okhrana Federal State Unitary Enterprise.

Federal State Unitary Enterprise Okhrana, which on a commercial basis offers services for the protection of property of citizens and organizations, was headed by Roman Viktorovich Zolotov, the son of the chief guardsman of Russia, at least from 2010 to 2014. In 2012, Okhrana became involved in a high-profile corruption scandal related to the name of the no less scandalous General Mikhail Sukhodolsky, who was removed by the president from the post of head of the St. Petersburg police. True, then the general director of the enterprise was called not the son of Zolotov, but a certain Andrey Komissarov.

The surname Zolotova constantly appears in the tangled tangle of relationships between the authorities, criminals, security forces and business.

The commander of the new National Guard is a rare representative of the federal law enforcement agency who is on friendly terms with Ramzan Kadyrov.

The Chechen leader has already warmly welcomed the creation of the Russian National Guard and announced his readiness to serve in it. No wonder, because Putin's chief guard Viktor Zolotov actually brought Ramzan Kadyrov into the "family".

Ilya Yashin, in his report “A Threat to National Security,” wrote: “Kadyrov and Zolotov maintain a long-standing relationship, the head of Chechnya has repeatedly received a high-ranking security official at his home with his family. Thanks to Zolotov, the head of Chechnya has direct access to the president of Russia. It was on the General's initiative that the President of the Russian Federation publicly received Kadyrov in the Kremlin on the day of his father's assassination. This largely predetermined the further political growth of Kadyrov.”

Viktor Zolotov came to Kadyrov in the fall of 2015, thereby ensuring his immunity in the conflict between the head of Chechnya and the federal security forces and in the case of the murder of Boris Nemtsov.

The fact that Viktor Zolotov was authorized to speak on behalf of the President is not surprising. They met Putin back in the 1990s while working at the St. Petersburg mayor's office. Zolotov was then the chief of security for Anatoly Sobchak, and Vladimir Putin was deputy mayor. Putin's bodyguard at the time was Roman Tsepov, who at the same time was in charge of the Baltic Escort security company, which provided protection for Lyudmila Narusova and Ksenia Sobchak. So Putin began to communicate closely with Zolotov, who became his judo sparring partner. Lyudmila Narusova spoke well of Viktor Zolotov, especially noting his devotion.

Apparently, this quality also impressed Vladimir Putin, who took the bodyguard of his former boss to Moscow. So Viktor Zolotov became the head of the presidential guard and worked in this capacity for 13 years.


Viktor Zolotov, Ksenia Sobchak and Anatoly Sobchak

Boris Volodarsky, a former security officer and historian of the Russian security services, believes that Viktor Zolotov remained Putin's man even during Dmitry Medvedev's presidency. The historian believes that the security official rather "looked after" Medvedev. Volodarsky links the new head of the National Guard with a series of murders, which, according to him, were carried out with the help of poisons by the Soviet and Russian special services. “This (the murder of Litvinenko. - Open Russia) is only one of the episodes, since in the book (“The KGB Poison Factory. - Open Russia) I consider quite a few cases,” Volodarsky said. - But the Litvinenko case is outstanding for a number of reasons. An extraordinary poison was used, and most importantly: the murder caused an extraordinary world resonance. One chapter of the book is called Dead Souls. From Stalin to Putin. It is dedicated to the personal bodyguards of all Soviet leaders. The climax is Viktor Zolotov, head of Putin's bodyguard. At the same time, he is the deputy head of the Federal Security Service. During Putin's two terms, he advanced from colonel to colonel general. He entered the closest, the closest circle of Putin.

Zolotov's name is mentioned in one sentence with the word "poison" and in connection with the death of Roman Tsepov.

Zolotov moved to Moscow and became head of the presidential security, while Tsepov remained in St. Petersburg, developing the Baltic Escort company and the image of a well-connected businessman who can solve any problems. In June 2004, he even called himself a person who has the authority to negotiate between the Presidential Administration and the shareholders of Yukos. The Presidential Administration was then headed by Igor Sechin, with whom Roman Tsepov really knew. What happened next is hard to say. Some sources stated that Yukos refused to negotiate with Tsepov, others that Tsepov wanted to join the company's board of directors and receive a significant stake, "a piece of uneasy." But three months after the start of the "negotiations" Roman Tsepov was dead. It is believed that he was poisoned with a large dose of a leukemia drug. The funeral was attended by General Viktor Zolotov.


Viktor Zolotov at the funeral of Roman Tsepov

For the last three years, Zolotov seemed to have retired. Rumors that the general could remove Vladimir Kolokoltsev from the post of head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were never confirmed - in 2013 he headed the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

But his old friend did not distance himself from Vladimir Putin, as evidenced by the location of the president's and Zolotov's estate.

The head of the National Guard has a house in the village of Malaya Kalchuga, not far from Novo-Ogaryovo, as well as a dacha in the village of Yascherovo, just seven kilometers from Putin's Valdai residence. Zolotov's house in Gelendzhik is 30 kilometers away from another presidential residence. In addition, the general owns a chalet in the Sochi gated community Polyana. The president has no real estate there, but Lyubov Kabaeva, the mother of Alina Kabaeva, lives next door to Zolotov.

Wherever Vladimir Putin is, his chief guard is always there.