Meet Putin's Musketeers: Crack team of agents protect Russian prez from killers, coups and COVID
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham caused a massive uproar on March 3 after calling for Vladimir Putin to be assassinated on Twitter. The horror of such a statement coming from a sitting US Senator aside, Graham's tweet has raised an important question - what will it take to stop the Russian president?
Putin has become a pariah to much of the western world after launching his invasion of Ukraine. He's faced personal sanctions, as have some of his closes allies. In fact, US-based Russian businessman Alex Konanykhin has now put out a $1 million reward for Putin's arrest. Even within Russia, it appears Putin is losing support as millions have taken to the streets to protest the war, and many celebrities put up anti-war statements on social media before access to Facebook and others was blocked.
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The joint result of the massive humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and heavy sanctions appear to have left Putin with little support, but can he actually be toppled? It may be possible but one thing we know for sure is that it's next to impossible to kill Putin as Graham wanted. If you are wondering why, then meet the 'Musketeers', the bodyguards of the President.
Who are the Musketeers?
Just like in the USA, the Russian President is protected by a special service that comes under Russia's Federal Protective Service (FSO). The FSO employs around 5,000 people tasked to protect Putin, the Prime Minister, and other key Russian leaders, but it's those that are tasked with protecting Putin himself that is worth noting. To become a 'Musketeer', there's a stringent set of requirements that few are able to match, given the extreme lengths Putin goes to in order to ensure his safety.
For one, a musketeer must be below 35 years of age. Upon turning 35, they are replaced and either move on to other jobs or are rewarded with cushy positions such as regional governors, federal ministers, and special services commanders. Combat experience is not required and sometimes can disqualify a candidate because Putin's "security is the first priority, not the necessity to apprehend the attacker," according to Beyond Russia.
Operational psychology is key because Putin's guards must be able to "anticipate and prevent threats and to do this unnoticed". Furthermore, they must have a good command of foreign languages and politics. In terms of physicality, the guard should all be between 175 and 190 cm and weigh between 75-90 kg. Furthermore, they should be able to withstand extreme temperatures, and reportedly take "medicines that affect physiological processes" in order to do so.
Protecting Putin
Protecting the Russian President is an extremely complicated, and draining task. The Musketeers are arranged in four circles, covering everything from Putin's immediate vicinity to the edge of the crowd (when out in public). They are armed with a 9-mm ‘Gurza’ pistol and kevlar umbrellas. They also carry suitcases that can form protective shields around Putin if required. When traveling, he's also protected by a special-ops group that is armed to the teeth.
So if Graham was hoping somebody would attack Putin when he's out and about, it appears that's next to impossible. As a former security official himself, Putin knows exactly where the risks can come from. It appears he also takes similar measures at home, as we have seen. Because of Covid-19, Putin reportedly maintains at least 20 feet of distance when meeting others, and went as far as to don a full hazmat suit when he visited Covid-19 patients at a Moscow hospital in April 2020.
To protect himself from poisoning, Putin also has an official taster whose job it is to sample every dish he is offered. The extreme levels he goes to are a good indication of just how paranoid Putin is, and probably with good reason. Given Russia's bloody history of coups and revolutions, Putin is probably aware he will be challenged one day. Unlike his predecessors, it appears he is well-armed and ready.