Yevgeny Prigozhin is a Russian businessman and a key figure in the Wagner Group, a private military contractor that has been linked to Russian military operations in Ukraine and Syria.
He was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) on June 1, 1961, to Violetta Prigozhina, who raised him as a single mother.
Prigozhin’s father died early, and his mother supported him and his sick grandmother by working at a local hospital.
His father and stepfather were of Jewish descent.
Prigozhin was sent to a sporting academy, where daily activities often involved hours of cross-country skiing.
He spent most of his 20s in prison, serving nine years for robbery, fraud, and involving teenagers in crime.
After his release from prison, Prigozhin set up a hot dog stand in St. Petersburg in the 1990s.
He soon expanded into chic eateries, and his New Island floating restaurant was a favorite of Vladimir Putin, a former deputy mayor of the city.
Prigozhin’s good relations with Russia’s elite brought in lucrative catering contracts for schools, hospitals and the army.
Despite his humble beginnings, Prigozhin rose to become a powerful figure in Russian politics and business.
He has been linked to a wide range of activities, including election interference, propaganda campaigns, and military operations.
Yevgeny Prigozhin death
Prigozhin, the boss of the Wagner Group, is believed to have died in a plane crash near Moscow on August 23, 2023.
He was on the passenger list of the jet which crashed killing all on board, Russia’s civil aviation authority has said.
The crash comes on the same day that senior Russian general Sergei Surovikin was reportedly sacked as air force chief.
Gen Surovikin was known to have good relations with Prigozhin and had not been seen in public since the mutiny.
Yevgeny Prigozhin relationship with Vladimir Putin
Prigozhin had a complex relationship with Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia.
The two both hail from St. Petersburg (formerly known as Leningrad).
Prigozhin served a decade-long prison sentence starting in his teenage years before starting a hot-dog stand.
He quickly gained attention in the hospitality industry and caught Putin’s eye.
Prigozhin gained Putin’s attention through his catering business and started serving state dinners, including one held in 2006.
Over the past 20 years, Putin and Prigozhin have maintained close relations based on a mutual understanding.
Prigozhin has served the interests of Putin by resorting to force in various regions, such as Ukraine, Syria, Africa, and South America.
He has also operated internet troll factories in Europe and the United States.
Putin has outsourced certain state functions to Prigozhin but has not officially legitimized him.
The Russian president has stated that Prigozhin is not a “friend” and has no official status.
However, Prigozhin has managed to make himself indispensable to the Kremlin through his contacts and influence.
His relationship with Putin is based on enrichment for Prigozhin and the use of hybrid force for Putin.
Prigozhin has zealously served Putin’s interests and has become wealthy in the process.
Prigozhin used his close ties to Putin to build a private army known as the Wagner mercenary group.
He later led an armed rebellion in Russia but eventually abandoned it for exile in Belarus.
The true nature of the resolution to the crisis and Prigozhin’s future remain unknown.
It is important to note that while Prigozhin has had a close relationship with Putin and has served his interests, Putin has not officially recognized Prigozhin as a friend or given him an official status.
