Vladimir Putin’s Russia has a history of mysterious deaths. For example, in 1998, Galina Starovoitova, an advocate for democracy in Russia, was gunned down in her apartment building in St. Petersburg. Similarly, Anna Politkovskaya, a journalist who exposed Putin’s actions in the Chechen wars, met a similar fate in Moscow in 2006. Boris Nemtsov, a prominent critic of Putin, was assassinated near the Kremlin in 2015. Others, like Alexei Navalny, have survived assassination attempts.
In recent years, a new group of victims has emerged: members of the Russian business elite who may have shown disloyalty or lack of enthusiasm for the war. Executives in the gas industry have been found dead with suicide notes, and others have been killed in murder-suicides. The owner of a Sochi resort was discovered dead at the bottom of a cliff, and another executive was found floating in a pool in St. Petersburg. These incidents have occurred not only in Russia but also in places like India, the French Riviera, and Washington, D.C.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, however, stands out among these victims. His private plane mysteriously crashed after an explosion, indicating state involvement. Prigozhin was not an opponent of Putin but played a role in his rise to power. He built the Wagner mercenary group, supported dictators, and exploited diamond mines for Moscow. He also ran the Internet Research Agency, which influenced the election of Donald Trump.
Prigozhin had participated in the war in Ukraine and raised concerns about its conduct and the motives of its leaders. His rebellion against the Russian army and subsequent march to Moscow challenged the president’s authority. This mysterious death represents a new kind of violence, as it has now reached the heart of Russia.
Putin’s rule has relied on opportunism, bribery, and the facade of Russian nationalism, backed by the threat of violence. In the aftermath of Prigozhin’s rebellion, Putin may seek more spectacular acts of violence to maintain control and instill fear. However, there is a lack of trust among Russia’s elite, and they fear for their safety. Many associated with Prigozhin have reason to worry, as evidenced by the dismissal of a general close to him and the death of his deputy.
The question now is how those in Moscow who knew and worked with Prigozhin will respond. Will they passively wait for violence to consume them or take proactive measures? There are reports that Wagner troops are leaving their camps in Belarus. The threat of retaliation looms, as Telegram channels associated with the Wagner Group have explicitly warned of catastrophic consequences. It remains to be seen whether someone else will follow in Prigozhin’s footsteps and make a move towards Moscow.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
