Support The Moscow Times!

Presidential Guard Dies by Suicide Inside Kremlin – Reports

The FSO is a Russian government agency tasked with protecting high-ranking officials including the president. Stanislav Krasilnikov / TASS

A Russian Federal Protection Service (FSO) officer responsible for guarding President Vladimir Putin has allegedly died by suicide inside the Kremlin walls, media reported Monday.

The Baza Telegram channel, which is thought to have links to Russia’s security services, said Mikhail Zakharov shot himself during his service. The state-run TASS news agency, which did not name the officer, cited an unnamed law enforcement source as confirming the suicide.

Zakharov’s colleagues linked his suicide to his increased overtime hours and his employers’ indifference to work conditions, Baza reported.

“Zakharov’s colleagues note that the practice of overworking has become more frequent due to a critical staff shortage at the FSO,” the Telegram channel said.

“Employees often have to work not only their own shifts but also that of their colleagues who had left. These overtime hours are unpaid,” it added.

Baza also reported that the FSO had recently discontinued the policy of allowing early retirement for members who had accumulated enough overtime hours, nullifying all of their extra hours.

The FSO is a Russian government agency tasked with protecting high-ranking officials including the president.

A TASS source maintained that the unnamed victim did not serve in the unit responsible for Putin’s personal protection, contradicting Baza’s assertion that he did.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more