Prigogine, before fraud-prostitution brokerage and after being released from prison, expanded his position as ‘Putin’s chef’ and aimed to enter the political world in the wake of the Ukrainian war
An analysis has emerged that Yevgeny Prigozhin (pictured), founder of the Wagner Group, a notorious private military company in Russia called “Putin’s private soldier,” is aiming to advance into Russian politics. As the voice of criticism toward the military leadership grows louder due to the protracted war in Ukraine, Prigogine, who is winning in Bakhmut, is taking advantage of this opportunity to expand his political position.
On the 14th, the New York Times (NYT) paid attention to Prigogin’s recent moves and said, “He wants to play a more important role in Russia beyond being the head of a mercenary company.” Prigogine posted a video on Telegram on the 11th and said, “The Wagner Group will turn into an ideological army. This ideology is a struggle for justice,” he declared.
The Wagner Group, which had been operating in secret until last year, announced last week that it would open recruitment centers in 42 cities and recruit mercenaries on a large scale. Jack Margolin, an expert on Russia, analyzed to the NYT that “Prigogine sees his future as risky and is trying to secure his place after Bahmut.”
The Wagner Group has been leading the Russian offensive in Bakhmut, Ukraine since last summer. According to the Institute for Warfare (ISW), last week Russia took control of most of the eastern part of the Bahmutkha River, which crosses Bahmut from north to south, and is fighting Ukrainian forces on the west side of the river. The New York Times reported that the Wagner group had won Russia its first major victory since last summer, and Prigozhin is using the record to pressure the Russian military leadership and increase his presence.
Prigogine served time in the 1980s for fraud and prostitution, and then got out of prison and entered the restaurant business. In the 1990s, he caught the eye of President Vladimir Putin and was called ‘Putin’s chef’. After establishing the Wagner Group in 2014, it intervened in the forcible annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and civil wars in Africa, including Syria and Libya.
A national poll last month by the Russian polling agency Russian Field found that 41% of respondents were in favor of Prigozhin’s role in the war. The NYT said, “This shows that Prigozhin is one of the most popular leaders in Russia.”
Reporter Lee Chae-wan chaewani@donga.com
