Badge "25 Years Of The Main Directorate Of Special Programmes Of The President".

[deValcourt]

I've had this post-Soviet badge for some time and was wondering if anyone has ever seen one like it to be able to tell if this is an authentic badge from the "GUSP" or just another fantasy piece for tourists?

The construction is very detailed and is a stamped brass badge, but not without flaws. The screw nut shows the ubiquitous "ВОЕН ЗНАК" mint mark which is on many modern government RF and private organization badges so it's difficult to decide.

For anyone who doesn't know, the "GUSP" is the current version of the KGB's Protection Service (once the 9th Directorate: Government Guards), which was then the independent GUO - literally the "Main Administartion for Protection" from 1992-1996, then finally the FSO or "Federal Protective Service." In this badge, which would have been from the 1992-1996 period, I have to assume the "P" is for "President" (also indicated by the "globus cruciger" which is a symbol of authority and part of the RF coat of arms), but the "S" could be many things.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Phillip