Yevgeny Prigozhin is a controversial figure who has gained prominence in Russia.
He was born on June 1, 1961, in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union and spent most of his 20s in prison, serving nine years for robbery, fraud and involving teenagers in crime.
After his release, Prigozhin started a hot-dog stand in St. Petersburg in the 1990s and later expanded into chic eateries.
Prigozhin and Russian President Vladimir Putin share the same hometown of St. Petersburg.
While Putin rose to become the Russian leader, Prigozhin served a decade-long prison sentence before starting his business ventures.
Putin helped Prigozhin open a school-lunch factory on generous state-funded loans.
Prigozhin also owned at least part of Concord Management and Consulting, a firm suspected of bankrolling online, pro-Trump trolling.
Additionally, Prigozhin is the founder of the Wagner Group, a private military company composed of mercenaries.
The Wagner Group has been linked to various conflicts, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Prigozhin’s role in recruiting and leading mercenaries has brought him into the spotlight.
Further, Prigozhin is known for his involvement in media and social media manipulation, and has been described as a mastermind of media and social media.
He has also been involved in various controversies. He has been wanted by the FBI for electoral interference.
There have been allegations of human rights abuses and intimidation tactics against journalists and critics.
Prigozhin’s crude and provocative persona has garnered attention and raised concerns about his methods.
Yevgeny Prigozhin plane crash
On August 23, 2023, a private jet crashed in Russia’s Tver region, killing all 10 people on board.
According to CNN, Prigozhin, the leader of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, was on the passenger list of the plane.
At the time of publishing this article, the cause of the plane crash that reportedly killed Prigozhin is not yet known.
The investigations are ongoing and no official statement has been released regarding the cause of the crash.
BREAKING:
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner Group died in a "business jet crash" in Russia.
Who could have seen this coming? pic.twitter.com/lQo8yORiGH
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) August 23, 2023
Wagner Group
The Wagner Group is a private military organization that has gained significant attention and controversy in recent years.
The group is composed of mercenaries and has been described as a de facto private army of Putin’s former close ally.
It is believed to have tens of thousands of fighters.
The Wagner Group first appeared in Ukraine in 2014 during the annexation of Crimea.
It has been heavily involved in the conflict in Ukraine, with an estimated 50,000 fighters in the country.
Wagner played a major role in Russia’s capture of the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.
The Wagner Group has also operated in Syria and various African countries.
It has been involved in conflicts such as the Syrian Civil War and has provided military and security support in Africa.
The group has been accused of committing human rights abuses in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, Sudan, Mali and Mozambique.
There has been speculation about the true nature of the Wagner Group’s relationship with the Russian government.
Some observers believe that it is a disguised branch of the Russian Ministry of Defense that ultimately reports to the government.
The group shares bases with the Russian military, is transported by Russian military aircraft, and uses Russia’s military healthcare services.
The Wagner Group has faced international scrutiny and sanctions.
In 2021, the United States labeled the group a “significant transnational criminal organization” and imposed sanctions.
Human rights observers have also raised concerns about the group’s alleged involvement in mass killings in Mali.
