MOSCOW, May 31 (Portal) – Russia’s most powerful mercenary Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Wednesday he had asked prosecutors to investigate whether senior Russian defense officials committed a “crime” in Ukraine before or during the war.
Prigozhin’s proposal is his most blatant public challenge yet to President Vladimir Putin’s top military officials, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov.
The 61-year-old restaurateur-turned-mercenary has spent months insulting both Shoigu and Gerasimov, who are spearheading the Russian war effort, for alleged treason. Neither has publicly responded to his criticism.
“Today I sent letters to the Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation with a request to verify the fact of committing a crime during the preparation and implementation of the SMO (special military operation) by a host of high-ranking officials of the Defense Ministry,” Prigozhin said.
“These letters will not be published as the investigative authorities will deal with them.”
The Department of Defense declined immediate comment.
“PUTIN’S WORSE”
Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner mercenary group, is the most conspicuous member of Putin’s circle who rose to prominence during the 15-month war in Ukraine.
He joked last week that his nickname should be “Putin’s Butcher” and not “Putin’s Chef.”
He says loyalty to Putin is part of his political stance, which he summed up as: “I love my fatherland, I serve Putin. Shoigu should be judged and we will keep fighting.”
In statements this week, he said he has continued to brief the country’s top leadership on problems and has criticized senior Kremlin officials for blocking media coverage of him and his private army.
Officials, diplomats and analysts told Portal that Prigozhin is not directly challenging Putin, but rather playing the role of fool and acting with the approval of those dismayed at the military’s conduct of the war.
Prigozhin’s private army fought alongside regular Russian forces in Ukraine, leading the month-long assault on the eastern city of Bakhmut that fell earlier this month.
Reporting by Portal, text by Guy Faulconbridge, editing by Gareth Jones
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Guy Faulconbridge