INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian lawmakers on Wednesday passed a bill that would allow the National Guard to deploy heavy weapons, including tanks, in the wake of a
launched in February last year.According to the legislation passed by parliament's lower house, the force, which answers directly to Putin,
was taking possession of military hardware from Wagner mercenaries following their aborted uprising last month.The legislation comes as the
Kremlin seeks to bolster its security apparatus after Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin staged the mutiny with a vow to topple the country's
said.The bill still has to be approved by the upper chamber and approved by Putin, steps that are considered a formality.
