Speaking with newspaper Kommersant, Nikita Smirnov, Vice President of Information Technology at Vnesheconombank, told reporters
Биткоин — это единственная в мире блокчейн
and
Его можно сравнить с бактерией, которая уже существует отдельно от человека и вошла с человеком в симбиоз
which roughly translates, respectively, to "Bitcoin is the world's only blockchain" and "Compare [Bitcoin] to a bacteria, which exists separately from humans, but is in a symbiotic relationship with humans". These fiat confirmations come, respectively, two-and-a-half years and over four years after these blindingly factual statements were first announced publicly to the world.
And you thought ten minute blocks were slow. Sorry for your lag.
Headline imho somewhat misleading; Smirnov was not speaking "ex cathedra".
"…says Russian State Banker" perhaps