In the meanders of Russian power, dark narratives intertwine with politics inextricably. Vladimir Putin, a central figure for two decades, embodies strength and perseverance. However, behind the scenes of his reign, figures such as Yevgeny Prigojine emerge, bringing with them mystery and tragedy.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, once a staunch ally of Putin, became a key player in the Wagner mercenary mutiny last June. Speculation was rife as to his fate. Would he have been imprisoned, eliminated or erased from the political scene? Against all expectations, a less dramatic outcome presented itself. Prigojine and his fighters went into exile in neighboring Belarus, citing arrangements in the shadows.

Darkness behind exile

However, the reality is more complex than it seems. Prigojine quietly trod the corridors of the Kremlin in June, before being invited to the Russia-Africa summit in Saint Petersburg in July. The tragic outcome came with his death in a plane crash, 300 km from Moscow, a situation tinged with suspicion. Speculation abounds: mechanical accident, stratagem orchestrated by Prigojine himself or disguised assassination?

Revenge seems to be a concept at the heart of Russian power. CIA Director Bill Burns once called Putin “the ultimate apostle of revenge.” Prigozhin, by his humiliating defiance, may have prompted this side of Putin. Putin’s words “forgive, but not everything” take on a more sinister meaning in light of these events.

Rivalries abound in this complex political landscape. Prigozhin counted army chief Valery Gerasimov, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and even Ukraine among his enemies, accusing him of war crimes. However, knowledgeable observers say the troubling succession of deaths among Putin’s critics suggests Prigozhin’s demise was orchestrated with Kremlin approval.

The shadow of death

Prigozhin’s fate adds to a long list of enigmatic deaths. From the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 to the alleged attack on Sergei Skripal in 2018, history is stained with blood and mystery. The deaths of critics and opponents like Anna Politkovskaya and Boris Nemtsov raise questions about the sincerity of the Kremlin’s claims.

Repression increased, especially after the invasion of Ukraine. Suspicious suicides and premature deaths among businessmen have sown doubt. Ravil Maganov, chairman of the Lukoil oil group, died tragically. Putin’s shadow looms, suggesting that opposition to the regime is far from being tolerated.

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Mots clés: #Prigozhin #Shadow #Apostle #Vengeance