Putin treats Prigozhin ‘with child gloves’ as Wagner chief is a ‘associate’

Wagner Group‘s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin stays a detailed affiliate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a commentator believes.

Canadian journalist Diane Francis identified how the founding father of the paramilitary troops strolled into St Petersburg whereas the Russian president was main a summit with African heads of state.

Noting that some observers discovered Mr Prigozhin’s presence in Russia “audacious” given it occurred simply weeks after his troops marched in the direction of Moscow to protest the Russian navy management, Ms Francis warned to not mistake Putin’s lack of motion in opposition to the Wagner chief for weak spot.

She wrote: “Putin treats Prigozhin with kid gloves, not out of weakness but because they are partners.”

The Wagner Group, she went on to assert, conducts “clandestine warfare and statecraft all over the world to advance Russia’s affect”, actions that may solely be welcomed by Putin.

Since it was based in 2014, the group has “been a key player in Putin’s undeclared War against Europe”, the journalist wrote in an opinion piece shared by way of her latest substack publication and revealed by the Kyiv Post.

After supporting the Russian invasion of Crimea, Wagner has grown exponentially and expanded throughout continents, beginning operations in Syria in addition to a number of African nations.

As it spreads “Moscow’s sphere of influence”, significantly in African international locations, Mr Prigozhin is a useful ally of Putin, the journalist steered.

Speaking after the short-lived mutiny launched by his Wagner Group between June 23 and 24, Mr Prigozhin careworn the rebellion was not in opposition to the Kremlin or Putin.

The targets of the transfer, which sparked fears of a coup in Russia and a run on the ruble, have been Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, Mr Prigozhin mentioned.

In the months previous to the rebellion, whereas Wagner troops have been being decimated within the lengthy battle for Bakhmut, Mr Prigozhin had lashed out a number of instances at Mr Gerasimov and Mr Shoigu, which he deemed responsible of the unfavourable course of the warfare for Russia.

The Kremlin has been cautious in denying for years any connections with Wagner.