Secrets will be kept by the first department

The Moscow metro is not only a network of tunnels and stations, but also a potential bomb shelter. The head of the First Department of Metrostroy, Gennady Terentyev (pictured), spoke about the capital's subway as a strategic object.

Gennady Nikolaevich, why is the department called First?

– At any large enterprise that ensures the protection of information, our department is the main one.

So you protect the interests of Mosmetrostroy?

– We service the documentation of the company's structural divisions that have a license to perform work related to the use of important information. For example, the location of facilities for mass evacuation of people, shelters, generator rooms, ventilation rooms. God forbid there is an industrial accident in the city. For Moscow this is collapse. Where should people be evacuated? It’s not right to take them out to the square.

You also keep the originals of the awards of the Moscow Metro Construction?

– Yes, ours will be more intact. Certificates signed by the heads of the country, originals of orders - everything is in the safe. So the work is interesting, but responsible. For each violation - an article of the criminal code, where everything is spelled out - 10, 15, 20 years.

Where did you work before?

– I’ve been at Mosmetrostroy for 13 years, six of them in the First Department. To transfer to it, he studied at MSTU. Bauman. All his life he served in the FSB system and in the border troops. I have 33 calendar years of service.

Why did you become a border guard?

– I followed in the footsteps of my father - he was a border guard. Met the war near Brest. He fought and was wounded. He was captured.

Border guards were usually not left alive, but chance helped him. When they swam across the river, they were shooting and bombing all around, and my father lost his shape. He came out wearing only his underpants and they didn’t touch him. And those who came out in uniform were sent straight to the wall. My father escaped from captivity and was hunted by dogs.

I wanted to become a sailor, then a pilot, but it didn’t happen. He became a border guard. He served in Transbaikalia, on the Pacific Ocean, studied at the Academy in Leningrad, was on the border with China, and from there he went to Afghanistan as an adviser to the foreign intelligence service. In 1989, our troops were withdrawn, and we remained to form the Special Purpose Guard. There are ten of us - all with mustaches, in Afghan uniform. It was sad. When you have your own behind you, you feel that everything is safe. And when there is no one behind you, it’s more difficult.

What year did you come to Moscow?

– Immediately after Afghanistan – in 1989. I was then offered a job at the Border Bulletin magazine, and I became editor of the technical and material support department. Of course, I love Moscow, but St. Petersburg more. Now in the capital there are also grandchildren: Valentin, he is 14 years old, an excellent student, and Nastya, she will turn 17.

The editors of “Metrostroevets” congratulate Gennady Nikolaevich on his 70th birthday and wish him success in his difficult task!