Russia's provinces may receive a new security detail that will protect -- and closely monitor -- provincial governors and the business elite. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on Nov. 6 a bill that would make his National Guard the protector of provincial leaders and prominent regional businesses. Provincial leaders and the business elite have traditionally drawn their security units from various sources: personally hired guards, local police, federal security services (FSB) and Interior forces (MVD), to name a few. But if the bill is passed, it would place Putin's personal army -- directly loyal to him -- over leaders and businesses to protect them, but to also watch over and potentially jail them. To add insult to injury, provinces will have to pay for the protection out of local budgets....
