Russia’s lack of ‘rule of law’ evident in presumed death of Wagner chief, claims former US diplomat

Former U.S. ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, expressed his belief that the reported death of Yevgeny Prigozhin highlights the absence of the “rule of law” in Russia. Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, is suspected to have died in a plane crash within Russia this week. There has been speculation among U.S. officials, including President Biden, that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have been responsible for Prigozhin’s death, as he had led a brief rebellion against Russian military leadership in June.

During an MSNBC interview, McFaul remarked on the audacious manner in which Prigozhin met his demise, stating that it suggests Putin’s modus operandi when dealing with individuals he dislikes, which includes assassination, arrest, poisoning, or lengthy imprisonment for criticizing his war endeavors. The lack of a functioning rule of law in Russia is evident in these instances.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, Putin has intensified efforts to suppress dissent within the country. Political opponents have been imprisoned, and experts in foreign affairs suspect that Prigozhin’s death may have been intended to send a message to those considering challenging Putin’s authority.

Dmitry Oreshkin, a professor at Free University in Riga, Latvia, characterized Prigozhin’s death as a strategic demonstration of uncompromising control over the situation. While he suggests that Prigozhin could have been discreetly poisoned, resulting in a heart attack, like previous opponents of Putin, it appears that a more overt method was chosen to maximize the impact.

The Kremlin has denied any involvement in Prigozhin’s death, and Putin himself, in his remarks following the incident, acknowledged Prigozhin’s contributions to Russia but also acknowledged his mistakes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has denied any connection between Ukraine and Prigozhin’s death, emphasizing that they are not involved in the ongoing conflict with Russia.

In conclusion, the reported death of Yevgeny Prigozhin has raised concerns about the rule of law in Russia, with allegations of Putin’s involvement and speculations on the intended message to dissenters. The Kremlin denies any responsibility, while Ukrainian President Zelensky asserts no involvement from Ukraine.

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