Podcast Summary
Prigozhin's deal with Kremlin after rebellion: Prigozhin, despite leading a rebellion against Moscow, struck a deal with the Kremlin and continued his activities in Africa, suggesting his continued value to Putin's regime.
Despite leading an armed rebellion against Moscow and being labeled a traitor by Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner militia boss, seemed to have avoided any significant consequences. After the rebellion, Prigozhin struck a deal with the Kremlin, allowing Wagner fighters to find refuge in Belarus, and even met with Putin at the Kremlin. Despite Putin's public condemnation, Prigozhin continued his activities in Africa, where he had extensive business interests and the Wagner mercenary force was active. In late July, Prigozhin was even seen meeting with African leaders at a summit in Saint Petersburg. Months after the mutiny, it seemed that Prigozhin was back in Putin's good graces and may have returned to his old role as a versatile asset in Putin's toolkit. The mysterious plane crash that killed Prigozhin on August 24, 2023, outside Moscow raises questions about whether this was a political assassination and what it might say about Putin's Russia.
Report: Wagner Group Leader's Plane Crashes, Raising Suspicions of Assassination: Western officials suspect foul play in the sudden crash of a private jet carrying Wagner Group leader Evgeny Prigozhin and his number 2, Dmitry Utkin, raising concerns of an assassination.
Evgeny Prigozhin, a key figure in the Wagner mercenary group and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was reportedly on a private plane that crashed north of Moscow on Wednesday, raising suspicions of an assassination. The plane, an Embraer jet, was flying from Moscow to Saint Petersburg when it suddenly dropped thousands of feet and crashed. Flight tracking data showed no signs of mechanical issues before the crash. The passenger manifest included not only Prigozhin's name but also that of Dmitry Utkin, Prigozhin's number 2 in the Wagner group. Western officials believe an explosion on the plane may have caused it to crash and suspect foul play. The sudden and unexplained nature of the crash, along with the high-profile passengers on board, has fueled speculation about an assassination.
Suspected plane explosion: Putin's delayed response raises doubts: Putin's delayed response to the plane explosion and lack of initial condolences fueled speculation of Russian involvement, but later investigations and Putin's statement confirmed Prigozhin's death and promised an investigation, hinting at efforts to distance the Kremlin from him and Suravikin.
The explosion on board the plane in Russia is suspected to be an intentional act, but the identity of the perpetrator is unknown. Initially, there were speculations that it could be Russia itself due to Putin's recent public denunciation of Yevgeny Prigozhin as a traitor. However, Putin's delayed response and lack of condolences raised doubts about his genuine grief over the incident. Putin eventually broke his silence and offered condolences, confirming the death of Prigozhin and promising an investigation. Notably, Putin did not blame external forces for the crash, and hours before the incident, Russian state media reported that General Sergei Suravikin, a key ally of Prigozhin in the military, had been relieved of his duties. These events suggest that the Kremlin may be taking steps to distance itself from Prigozhin and Suravikin, who had caused problems for the military command and Putin.
Putin's ruthless message to the Russian elite: Putin used the suspected death of a businessman to signal to the elite that challenging his power comes with severe consequences, amidst growing unrest in Mali and Ukraine.
The suspected death of Russian businessman Prokoshin, who had ties to Putin and was involved in conflicts in Africa, may have been an attempt by Putin to signal to the Russian elite that challenging his power comes with severe consequences. This act of violence could have been a response to the rebellion in Mali and the shooting down of Russian military aircraft by Prigozhin's forces, which left Putin appearing weak. Additionally, the timing of the event, two months after the rebellion, may have been chosen to allow tempers to cool and to capitalize on Putin's growing confidence in the Russian war effort in Ukraine. Ultimately, this event highlights the importance of fear in Putin's grip on power and his willingness to use violence to maintain control.
Russian military commanders' demotions signal end of Wagner group's significance: Russian commanders Igor Suravikin and Yevgeny Prigozhin, key figures in Ukraine invasion, demoted or seemingly dead, signaling Wagner group's decreasing role in Putin's war effort, with ultranationalist critics facing crackdown.
The demotions and apparent deaths of Russian military commanders, Igor Suravikin and Yevgeny Prigozhin, who played crucial roles in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, may signal the end of the Wagner group's significance in Putin's war effort. Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, and Suravikin, who oversaw the construction of defensive lines, were instrumental in Russia's initial successes but are now being sidelined. Additionally, the ultranationalist, pro-war hawks, including Prigozhin, who have been critical of Putin for not being aggressive enough, have faced a crackdown from the authorities in recent months. This perception, whether true or not, reinforces Putin's control and his vision for the war. The future of the Wagner group remains uncertain as Putin's priorities shift towards consolidating his gains and suppressing dissent.
Russian Duma deputy's death fuels fears of tighter authoritarian grip under Putin: The suspected death of a Russian Duma deputy and Trump's felony charges highlight the complexities and consequences of political power and control.
The suspected death of Russian Duma deputy Denis Prigushin, following a plane crash, has fueled concerns about an even tighter authoritarian grip under Russian President Vladimir Putin. The incident has reportedly left elites in Russia fearful of speaking out against the government, and the long-term sustainability of such a political system remains uncertain. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump made headlines by turning himself in to the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia, to face felony charges related to his attempts to reverse the results of the 2020 election. Trump's brief stint in jail marked a notable moment in American politics, but the investigation into the Russian incident continues to raise broader questions about political power and control.
