Russian National Guard says its director single-handedly talked down a suicide bomber outside the Kremlin

Viktor Zolotov, the same Russian National Guard director who recently challenged Alexey Navalny to a “duel,” wants you to know that he talked down a suicide bomber outside the Kremlin on Wednesday. And if you don’t believe him, you’re invited to accompany Zolotov to the North Caucasus to witness counter-terrorist training exercises in the mountains.

On October 4, in a special announcement on the National Guard’s official website, the agency stated that a man identified as “D. Yu. Shalai” parked an armored Mercedes-Benz G-Class in Vasilevsky Spusk square near St. Basil’s Cathedral, threatening to detonate an explosive if he wasn’t granted an immediate face-to-face meeting with the head of the National Guard. When Zolotov was informed of the situation, he immediately rushed to the scene and began negotiating with the bomber, the agency says.

According to the National Guard, Shalai said he has been trying for some time to reach President Putin, in order to pass along information about the shortcomings and regulatory violations of Russia’s prison system. Zolotov then convinced the man to let him remove a backpack and gas cylinder from the car’s backseat, which he then turned over to the bomb squad. Afterwards, Zolotov sat in the car with Shalai, where they continued their conversation. “General Zolotov expressed his regret regarding Shalai’s decision to use an unlawful method to convey his information to the country’s leaders,” the National Guard’s press office says. Zolotov then convinced the man to step out of the vehicle and turn himself over to the authorities peacefully.

The National Guard says it was compelled to publish this detailed retelling of Wednesday's standoff because “various resources on the Internet and on social media are spreading distorted commentaries about this incident, including characterizing it as a staged event.”

Apparently infuriated by the accusation, Zolotov has extended an invitation to those who doubt his actions, “and other seekers of alternative viewpoints who have a burning desire to participate in such ‘staged events,’” to come with him to the North Caucasus, where National Guard troops train alongside other counter-terrorism units. The sight will reveal “the full beauty of the work done by our staff and combat personnel,” the agency promises.

Photo on front page: Russian National Guard