Why are Georgian riot police gas masks shaped like that?

Question

I'm sure many of you have seen the famous pictures of Georgian riot police in oddly-shaped gas masks cracking down on government protesters. But I've been trying to research it on Yahoo!, and all that I can find are people commenting that the gas masks look sort of like Mickey Mouse or Goofy. What I'd really like to know is:
1. What are those specific brand of gas masks called?
2. Why are they shaped in the way they are, rather than like more traditional gas mask?

For those unfamiliar with what I'm referring to, here are several links:
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/11/07/world/07geor.ms.650.jpg
http://world.commongate.com/post/Georgian_riot_cops_in_Mickey_Mouse_gas-masks/
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/11/08/georgian-riot-cops-i.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29
http://exiledonline.com/my-autocrats-worse-than-your-autocrat-corruption-galore-in-the-washington-post/all/1/

Answer 1

Those are called the PBF gas masks, and they are a relic of the old Soviet Union. They were originally issued to border troops and officers. They're largely surplus collectibles nowadays but they're still used in some former Soviet satellites for riot agent protection. And I've heard Georgian troops carried them during the 2008 Georgian-Russian war also.



They look like that because the mask's filters aren't the standard canister 40mm threaded mounted on the side or front. Its filters are tucked within pockets on the inside of the mask where the cheeks are. That's why the PBF looks bloated. The voicemitter and exhale valve is in the front. The US M17 and Czech/East German M10M in the Vietnam and Cold War era are also built like this. And the current issue US M50 gas mask also uses propietary cheek filters. Virtually all military gas masks are designed to be compatible with helmets so I don't think it's because of their helmets.



Plus the Soviet Union are infamous for making the most iconic and creepy looking gas masks, to instill the psychological fear (look at the East German Schms mask also) It looks more like some evil demonic howling goblin creature to me than Mickey Mouse or Goofy.



There is actually a gas mask that is designed like Mickey Mouse, and it's meant for children to wear so they wouldn't be scared or uncomfortable of the mask.

Answer 2

Georgian Riot Police

Answer 3

Shortly after Pearl Harbor, many people feared a chemical attack. Mickey Mouse masks were created so children were more likely to wear them, increasing their chance of survival if there was a gas attack.



My guess is they got them from a government surplus store for cheap.

Answer 4

They may have been designed that way so it would have a proper fit while wearing the particular helmet they use.