Until Saturday, Wagner’s boss Prigozhin regularly sent audio and video messages via Telegram. But since he 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 Ukrainian border. Some of his fans just wanted to take selfies with him. Most residents of the city in southern Russia apparently supported the invasion of Wagner’s fighters.
But the end of the Wagner private army uprising – 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 Wagner’s boss to cancel his men’s march on Moscow.
But where is Yevgeny Prigozhin now? And why is he silent?
Since leaving Rostov-on-Don on Saturday night, there have been no new audio or video messages from Prigozhin on social media. In previous days, 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 signal again”
Prigozhin’s company press office told broadcaster RTVi this Sunday afternoon that Wagner’s boss sent his regards and would answer questions “if he was any good [Handy-]Reception has “. This is reported by FT reporter Max Seddon.
In his messages, Prigozhin cast doubt on official justifications for war in Ukraine. However, Wagner’s boss is by no means against Russia’s war – and he had warned about the loss of the Crimean peninsula (which actually belongs to Ukraine).
Should Prigozhin fear for his family’s well-being?
On Saturday night, it was reported on the Internet that Russian authorities were carrying out raids against members of the Wagner PMC.
Prigozhin is married to a businesswoman, it is said that Lyubov met the former prisoner during his 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.
According to the Financial Times, his wife – who runs beauty salons, among other things – and their children are involved in Prigozhin’s corporate empire.
Furthermore, the Prigozhins have an 83-year-old mother, who caused an uproar when Violetta Prigozhin challenged EU sanctions against her and won the lawsuit.
However, Wagner’s boss and his people are known for their brutality. Prigozhin expressly advocated the cruel execution of “traitors” at the front in Ukraine.
Monday off: Security measures in Russia remain in place
According to experts, Russian President Vladimir Putin emerged weakened from the attempted uprising. The head of state had threatened the rebellious people of Wagner with severe penalties on Saturday morning, and everything was lifted on Saturday night.
Security measures and no-work Monday in the Russian capital remain in effect despite the cancellation of the march in Moscow. There are also frequent assumptions about the whereabouts of the Russian president.