What a funny article. Last I heard, the international monetary system gave up on the Gold Standard some 40 or so years ago---with good reason--and odd & bizarre attempts to resuscitate it have failed (even in the USA, which would have the most to gain).
So, Putin is going for the gold, eh? We'll leave aside the many commentaries on how Russia's gold reserves have not stopped the rouble from turning into rubble. Instead consider this: the USA remains the world's largest holder of gold reserves, about 8 times that of Russia. Now, imagine what would happen to "Putin's Budding Gold Standard" if the USA decided to sell, say, one-eighth of its gold reserves at below current market rates. (Don't forget that, regardless of other countries, the Gold Standard died as soon as the USA decided it had no more use for it.)
Military options being out, the USA (with the Saudis convinced to go along) has decided that there are other ways to make Russians feel some pain, and so far some pain has been felt. (True, the Saudis and Americans too will feel pain from falling oil prices, and they know it; but it's a comparison of a paper-cut on a finger and a sharp burning stick in the eye.) What has been done with oil could be done even better---or is it "worse" in this case---with gold.
P.S. The current "accusations" are solely based on his mischief in the Ukraine, nothing to do with the KGB or whatever.