Viktor Zolotov

Viktor Zolotov
Виктор Золотов
Zolotov in 2023
Director of the National Guard of Russia
Assumed office
5 April 2016
PresidentVladimir Putin
Preceded byPosition established
(himself as Commander-in-Chief of the Internal Troops of Russia)
Commander-in-Chief of the Internal Troops of Russia
In office
12 May 2014 – 5 April 2016
Preceded byNikolay Rogozhkin
Succeeded byPosition disestablished (himself as Director of the National Guard of Russia)
Personal details
Born
Viktor Vasilyevich Zolotov

(1954-01-27) 27 January 1954 (age 70)
Sasovo, Ryazan Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Military service
Allegiance Soviet Union (1975–1991)
 Russia (1991–present)
Branch/serviceKGB Border Guard
Federal Protective Service
Internal Troops of Russia[1]
National Guard of Russia
Years of service1975–present
Rank General of the Army

Viktor Vasilyevich Zolotov (Russian: Ви́ктор Васи́льевич Зо́лотов; born 27 January 1954) is a Russian military officer who is the Director of the National Guard (Rosgvardiya) and a member of the Security Council. Zolotov is a former bodyguard to former President Boris Yeltsin, former St. Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak, and current Russian leader Vladimir Putin.[2] While working for Sobchak, Zolotov became acquainted with Putin, as well as figures in the St. Petersburg criminal underworld.[3] A member of Putin's siloviki inner circle, Zolotov's rise to power and wealth happened after he became a close Putin confidant.[2][4][3] The Zolotov family has obtained valuable land plots through dubious means.[3]

  1. ^ "Журнал "Военный" №4: "Генерал армии Виктор Золотов: "Росгвардия работает для людей" (Military magazine No. 4: Army General Viktor Zolotov: "The Russian Guard works for the people")". Archived from the original on 15 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Putin's Top Bodyguard Finds His Way in St. Petersburg". www.occrp.org. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Badanin, Andrei Zakharov, Roman. "'I Already Knew Who Was Behind Her': A Mysterious Woman, a Top Russian Official, and Contracts Worth Millions". OCCRP. Retrieved 12 March 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Putin's Bodyguards Rewarded with Land and Power". www.occrp.org. Retrieved 12 March 2022.