Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Wagner mercenary group?

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Yevgeny PrigozhinThe head of Wagner’s mercenary group vowed on Saturday to “go to the end” to bring down the Russian army Leadership. He accused the army of launching strikes on his men and said he would “destroy everything that comes our way”.
Prigozhin’s defiance of President Vladimir Putin is the most brazen since the offensive began in Ukraine last year, and he later claimed his forces had shot down a Russian military helicopter.
Prigozhin’s forces led most of the Russian offensive in Ukraine. They are known for their brutality and have been accused of war crimes. Russia’s attorney general said Prigozhin was under investigation for “war crimes”. insurgency. It is unclear what the outcome of the investigation will be, but Prigozhin’s defiance of Russia’s military leadership is a sign of the growing discord within the country.
Here’s everything you need to know about Yevgeny Prigozhin:
Yevgeny Prigozhin is a Russian oligarch, mercenary leader, and confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prigozhin is sometimes called “Putin’s chef”, as he owns restaurants and catering companies that provide services to the Kremlin. Once a convict in the Soviet Union, Prigozhin now controlled a network of influential companies, including the Russian state-backed mercenary firm Wagner Group and three companies accused of meddling in the 2016 and 2018 US elections.
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Prigozhin was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) in 1961. He had a difficult childhood, spending time in a children’s home and then in a juvenile detention centre. After his release, he worked as a chef, and then opened his own restaurant in St. Petersburg. In the early 2000s, he began winning government contracts to feed school children and government workers. He also became a close associate of Putin, who was then mayor of Saint Petersburg.
In 2014, Prigozhin is believed to have founded the Wagner Group, a private military contractor that has been involved in conflicts in Syria, Libya and Ukraine. The Wagner Group has been accused of human rights abuses, including torture and summary executions.
It is also believed that Prigozhin was behind the Internet Research Agency (IRA), a troll farm that was accused of interfering in the 2016 US presidential election. The IRA used social media to spread pro-Trump propaganda and to sow discord among American voters.
Prigozhin was sanctioned by the United States and the European Union for his activities. He is currently under investigation by the US Department of Justice for possible criminal charges.
Prigozhin is a controversial figure, but he is also a strong one. He has close ties to Putin and controls an extensive network of companies. It is a reminder of the dark side of Russian power, a threat to democracy and stability around the world.
Here are some more details about Prigozhin’s life and career:
He was convicted of theft and fraud in the Soviet Union and served nine years in prison.
He is the owner of a number of restaurants and catering companies, including Concord Catering, which has won billions of dollars in government contracts.
He is the founder of the Wagner Group, a private military contracting company that has been involved in conflicts in Syria, Libya and Ukraine.
It is believed to be behind the Internet Research Agency (IRA), a troll farm that has been accused of interfering in the 2016 US presidential election.
He has been sanctioned by the United States and the European Union for his activities.
He is currently under investigation by the US Department of Justice for possible criminal charges.
(With inputs from agencies)



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