“During our one-off operations, we will remove the kidneys and liver at once,” he added, without clarifying the statement. Tuesday’s midterm elections in the United States will elect a new Congress and dozens of governors, in addition to filling thousands of other state and local political positions.
Prigozhin, who has long been credited by observers with playing a central role in the Russian government’s secret propaganda activities, apparently responded to an inquiry with his admission. He is due to comment on a media report that Russia is interfering in the US midterm elections. Last but not least, the 61-year-old is accused of using a “troll factory” to rig elections in several western countries. Trolls use fake profiles on online platforms to influence voters, for example by disparaging candidates and spreading false information.
more and more in the spotlight
The name Prigozhin is on the sanctions lists of the European Union, Great Britain and the USA. Also in July, the US State Department offered a reward of up to $10 million (about €10 million) for information about Prigozhin in connection with alleged interference in US elections. He is the first person to face such allegations and admit influence. According to the Guardian, the high-profile announcement is a clear indication that Prigozhin is increasingly considering a political role in Russia.
The influential businessman, who is also known as “Putin’s cook” because of his supplies for Kremlin kitchens, hails from St. Petersburg, like Putin. Its economic success is associated with the patronage of President Putin. He is the founder and financier of the private military and security company Gruppe Wagner and operated in the background for years.
Only recently has he become more public, among other things criticizing Russian generals for their war in Ukraine. In September, he also admitted to being the founder of the long-secret Kremlin-affiliated Wagner Troupe, which operates in Syria, Ukraine and Africa.
APA’s long-secret Wagner Group/AFP/Olga Maltseva Prigozhin now has official headquarters
Wagner now with official headquarters
According to AFP, the mercenary group only opened its first official headquarters in Russia on Friday, in Prigozhin’s hometown of St. Petersburg. On opening day, people in camouflage clothing walked through the building and observed an exhibit showing drones.
Prigozhin announced the opening of the office last week on online networks. The Wagner Center’s task is “to create a comfortable environment for the development of new ideas to improve Russian defense capability”.
“amount over experience”
In the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, Wagner mercenaries have been fighting side by side with Russia’s regular armed forces for months. According to British intelligence estimates, there has recently been a clear weakening of previously strict recruitment criteria.
“He has maintained relatively high recruitment standards in previous conflicts, and many of his mercenaries previously served as professional Russian soldiers,” the Defense Ministry in London said in late October. In light of heavy losses in Ukrainian theaters of war, Prigozhin suggested in an online post that the group would now also recruit prisoners with serious illnesses such as hepatitis C.
“The admission of prisoners with serious medical problems underscores that quantity is now the priority over experience or quality,” the British ministry commented in the post.