The "Friendship of Peoples" plant remained the only supplier of products for the Russian Guard for another two years

The Druzhba Narodov meat processing plant remained the sole supplier of food for the National Guard for another two years. The authenticity of the relevant order for 2019-2020 was confirmed to RBC in the press service of the government and the National Guard.

“Working with a single supplier makes it possible to supply all divisions of the Russian Guard with quality products, ensure transparency in pricing and the efficiency of procurement procedures,” the service of the National Guard Troops said.

The office of Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov, who oversees the state defense order, added that the order was agreed with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS): "They carefully check everything, up to the calculations of the initial price of the contract."

Earlier, RBC, citing sources , reported that the FAS had opened a case against Friendship of Peoples after an appeal from the Federal Security Service (FSB). The article says that the meatpacking plant "illegally inflated the price of products, effectively acting as a reseller."

The Russian Guard considered that the publication was “replete with gross inaccuracies” and that important information was distorted and hushed up in it. The agency accused journalists of "pressure and false information" and announced plans to sue RBC.

Earlier, politician Alexei Navalny drew attention to violations in the procurement of products for the National Guard. He claimed that after the Druzhba Narodiv meat processing plant became the sole supplier of products for the service in December 2017, purchase prices increased several times.

After this investigation, the head of the Russian Guard, Viktor Zolotov, recorded a video message in which he accused Navalny of "foolishness" and challenged the oppositionist to a duel, "promising to make a chop out of him." In response, the politician suggested that the official hold a televised debate. Neither the "duel" nor the debate has yet taken place.