Russian Prime Minister and president-elect Vladimir Putin has no plans to form any new special service divisions, including so-called national guard, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily reported that following a dramatic rise in protest activity in Russia the authorities have been pondering the establishment of a new law enforcement and security agency that will answer directly to the president.
“The reform of our armed forces and law enforcement agencies has been ongoing for more than a year,” Peskov said.
“As for the assertions that Putin is planning to create some units, some new types of special services - as reported today by some media outlets, provoking a lively discussion - that does not match the facts.”
“There is no question about that,” he added.
According to media reports, the National Guard was to be based on Interior Ministry Internal Troops, as well as units of Airborne Assault Forces, the Air Force and the Navy.
