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The discussion focused on the situation at the maximum security penal colony No. 19 in Surovikino, Volgograd Region, where several prisoners have taken prison employees hostage.

Taking part in the meeting were Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Secretary of the Security Council Sergei Shoigu, Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon.

The Head of the Federal Penitentiary Service has briefed me on the ongoing situation in one of the prisons in the Volgograd Region. In this regard, I would like to hear what the Interior Minister and the FSB Director have to say. Mr Zolotov [Director of the Federal Service of National Guard Troops] will be here for a meeting soon and provide his assessments.

After that, let us proceed to the regular issue that Mr Kolokoltsev planned to discuss.

Let us begin our work by hearing from the Interior Minister. Mr Kolokoltsev, please share your assessment of the situation in Volgograd.

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