2023-06-25 17:07:53
Until Saturday, Wagner boss Prigozhin regularly sent audio and video messages via Telegram. But since he is said to have left Rostov-on-Don for Belarus, there has been no more news.
Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin smiles as he leaves Rostov-on-Don on the border with Ukraine. Some of his fans just wanted to take selfies with him. The majority of the residents of the city in southern Russia had apparently supported the invasion of the Wagner fighters.
But the end of the uprising of the private army Wagner – in English Wagner PMC (for Private Military Company) – also seems very strange to many people in Russia. According to state media, Yevgeny Prigozhin left for Belarus after President Alexander Lukashenko allegedly convinced the Wagner boss to call off his men’s march on Moscow.
But where is Yevgeny Prigozhin now? And why is he silent?
Since leaving Rostov-on-Don on Saturday evening, there have been no new audio or video messages from Prigozhin on social media. In the days before, the entrepreneur had posted long recordings several times a day – first in a light T-shirt with a cup of tea, then as audio in a combative tone.
But suddenly the 62-year-old fell silent.
“When he has cell phone reception again”
The press office of Prigozhin’s company told the broadcaster RTVi on Sunday afternoon that the Wagner boss sent his regards and would answer questions “if he was good [Handy-]Reception has”. This is reported by FT reporter Max Seddon.
In his messages, Prigozhin cast doubt on the official justifications for the war in Ukraine. However, the Wagner boss is by no means against Russia’s war – and he had warned of the loss of the Crimean peninsula (which actually belongs to Ukraine).
Should Prigozhin fear for his family’s well-being?
On Saturday evening it was reported on the Internet that the Russian authorities were conducting raids on members of the Wagner PMC.
Prigozhin is married to a businesswoman, Lyubov is said to have met the former prisoner during her studies. The two have three adult children – including a 31-year-old daughter and a 26-year-old son. Lyubov Prigozhin and two of the three children are also on the EU and US sanctions lists.
The wife – who, among other things, runs beauty salons – and the children are laut Financial Times involved in Prigozhin’s corporate empire.
In addition, the Prigozhins have an 83-year-old mother, who caused a stir when Violetta Prigozhin challenged the EU sanctions against her and won the lawsuit.
However, the Wagner boss and his people are known for their brutality. Prigozhin had expressly advocated the cruel execution of “traitors” at the front in Ukraine.
Monday off: Security measures in Russia remain in place
According to experts, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has emerged weakened from the attempted uprising. The head of state had threatened the rebellious Wagner people with harsh penalties on Saturday morning, and everything was lifted on Saturday evening.
The security measures and the work-free Monday in the Russian capital remain in place despite the canceled march on Moscow. There is also frequent guesswork about the whereabouts of the Russian President.
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