In talking with 
Editor in Chief Bill 
, we agreed that as there were 2 sets of command, we would split them up - and paint one to represent border guards, and the other, standard NKVD. As the base colors were the same, we kept them together through the painting process.
First was some flashing and filing. Then the figures were washed in soap and water to remove any residue left from the mold.
They were nicely based on metal disks when they arrived (thanks, Bill!), so no work was needed to glue them onto holders for painting. So the next step was the primer coat.
I'm a big believer in black primer as the best way to keep those really deep shadows, so that is what we used here. I've never been entirely happy with spray primer, so we used a paint-on black primer that gives a smooth, even coat.
If you want to make a good paint-on black primer, just take a black acrylic (we use artist acrylics, but hobby or miniature acrylics are fine as well) and add about 10–15% by volume of white PVA glue, then mix and add water to thin as needed. Paint on a thin coat of this mixture as your primer, and keep any extra in a jar for your next batch of figures.