19 Facts About Alexander Korzhakov

Alexander Vasilyevich Korzhakov is a Russian former KGB general who served as Boris Yeltsin's bodyguard, confidant, and adviser for eleven years.

Alexander Korzhakov was the head of the Presidential Security Service from 1991 to 1996, State Duma deputy from 1997 to 2011, and retired Lieutenant-general.

In 1997, Alexander Korzhakov published a biography based on his experience at the very top of Russian politics.

Alexander Korzhakov was born in Moscow to a worker family.

In 1989, Alexander Korzhakov gave notice about his resignation from the Communist Party and was expelled for "non-payment of the party dues".

Alexander Korzhakov was responsible for the protection of Yeltsin during the August coup attempt in 1991 and on 4 October 1993, when the White House of Russia was stormed.

Alexander Korzhakov was regarded as one of the hard-liners of Yeltsin's team, a strong backer of the war in Chechnya, and an opponent to holding the presidential election in 1996.

In December 1994, Alexander Korzhakov organized an armed raid on the Moscow headquarters of Most Bank headed by Vladimir Gusinsky, an ally with Moscow Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov, who was a potential rival to Yeltsin in the 1996 presidential elections.

On 5 May 1996, Alexander Korzhakov explicitly called for postponing the elections.

The next day, 20 June 1996, Alexander Korzhakov was abruptly dismissed by Yeltsin at the urging of Chubais.

Alexander Korzhakov explains the severely negative outlook of Yeltsin, and the ruling elite as a whole, towards the democratic institutions.

Aware of this danger, Yeltsin ordered Alexander Korzhakov to prepare the arrest of all deputies in the case of impeachment.

Alexander Korzhakov adds several significant details which possibly confirm the view that the Kremlin violated many democratic rules during the presidential election campaign in 1996.

Alexander Korzhakov fully explains, with much elaboration, the story about how Anatoly Chubais' people tried to illegally take 500 thousand dollars from the Kremlin.

Alexander Korzhakov concludes, "when it came to making decisions, Yeltsin was motivated not by the interest of the state, but by his own family clan".

Alexander Korzhakov contends that the Kremlin was run by various unconventional leaders such as body guards like Alexander Korzhakov, himself.

Alexander Korzhakov describes the atmosphere surrounding Yeltsin as thick with unbridled favoritism, a fertile ground for intrigues among those struggling for the president's ear.

In 1999, Alexander Korzhakov repeated allegations that financial mogul Boris Berezovsky tried to convince him to murder Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, financial tycoon and NTV founder Vladimir Gusinsky, as well as popular crooner and Duma deputy Iosif Kobzon, a Luzhkov ally.

Alexander Korzhakov contends that during his State Duma election campaign in the aftermath of his ousting from the Kremlin in June 1996, his political adversaries wanted to kill his main rival in the parliamentary election in Tula in order to render the election invalid.