Russian National Guard Head Challenges Opposition Figure Navalny To Fight Over Allegations

(@FahadShabbir)

 Russian National Guard Head Challenges Opposition Figure Navalny to Fight Over Allegations

Director of the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardia) Viktor Zolotov challenged on Monday Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny to a fight in response to the accusations published by Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK).

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th September, 2018) Director of the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardia) Viktor Zolotov challenged on Monday Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny to a fight in response to the accusations published by Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK).

In August, FBK published a report saying that food used for the needs of the Russian National Guard were purchased at prices significantly higher than market ones.

"You said offensive, defamatory words about me. In the military environment one cannot just forgive this. Since the dawn of time, the scoundrel was beaten in the face, called to a duel. Mr. Navalny, nobody is preventing us from reviving at least part of those wonderful traditions, I mean satisfaction. I just challenge you to a fight � in the ring, on a tatami, or anywhere else," Zolotov said in a video published on YouTube.

He added that counterintelligence agencies, the military prosecutor's office, the Accounts Chamber, and others were actively working together with Rosgvardia on finding and eliminating corruption cases.

"We do have [cases of corruption], they do exist. So we are fighting them, we identify those people and, depending on the offense, we either dismiss them, or put them on trial � that's how we do things," Zolotov stressed.

Reacting to Zolotov's address, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that slander can be fought by any means.

"Sometimes brazen slander can be fought by any means. When there is really shameless defamation, which is nothing more than a violation of the current legislation, of course, it is better to nip it in the bud. In this regard, I agree, otherwise - no comments," Peskov told reporters.

Navalny's FBK is famous for its numerous publications alleging corruption in various state bodies of Russia as well as on the part of the country's businessmen and high-ranking officials. Navalny himself received two suspended sentences for alleged embezzlement in two separate cases, one in 2013, and another in 2014, for five years and 3.5 years in prison, respectively.