Some observers believe that the entrepreneur Yevgeny Prigozhin is gaining more political influence in Russia – he may even become a threat to Putin. This is reported by theNew York Times’ about the head of the Wagner mercenary group, whose men are fighting alongside the Russian state troops in the Ukraine.
Some Russian politicians are suspicious of Prigozhin. “We don’t understand what political ambitions he has,” Duma deputy and Putin supporter Oleg Matveychev told the New York Times. “No one knows if he has it or not.”
In an interview on Friday, Prigozhin claimed he had no political ambitions. If that’s true? In any case, the Kremlin is apparently trying to limit Prigozhin’s power.
The “New York Times” refers to the former Kremlin adviser Sergei Markov, who describes an instruction from Moscow. According to this, everyone who speaks for Putin in public should “not advertise excessively” for Prigozhin and Wagner.
“Apparently they don’t want to bring him into politics because he’s so unpredictable – they’re a bit scared of him,” the New York Times quoted Sergei Markov as saying.
However, Prigozhin’s main goal would be to create a business empire, not to achieve political office. Political influence is helpful. Putin, on the other hand, who has supported Prigozhin for years, is still behind him. At least for now.
He could stab Putin in the back – if he’s weakened
The New York Times points to analysts who trust Prigozhin to turn against Putin as soon as he is weakened after further setbacks in Ukraine. It is possible that Prigozhin is already preparing for this.
As the “New York Times” further reports, in recent weeks Prigozhin has hinted at an alliance with the Russian party Fair Russia. Although the party is in opposition, it supports the war in Ukraine.
Russia is dependent on the help of mercenaries in the Ukraine campaign. Prigozhin, who is considered a confidant of Putin, should know that very well. And regardless of political ambitions, Prigozhin recently launched a PR campaign on his own behalf, as reported by the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
He wants to be seen as a “sacrificing hero” who positions himself against the “petty and corrupt” elites in Russia and is always there for his men – who have included Russian convicts who are forced to fight. On Tuesday, however, Prigozhin announced that he would not recruit any more prisoners for the frontline.
“Prigozhin behaves like a politician,” Moscow political scientist Alexander Kynev told the New York Times. “But in Russia today there are almost no vacancies in politics.” Perhaps Prigozhin is waiting for some to become vacant.
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