Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the Wagner Group, is thought to have perished in a jet crash that occurred on Wednesday, 23 August, in the Tver area close to Moscow. The incident happened around two months after the violent uprising against Russia by his mercenary army.
The last time we saw the Wagner chief was in a video that he published earlier this week. He said that he was in Africa, where his men had moved after the failed rebellion. When the video was taken and if he has travelled back to Russia since then are still unknown.
Who is Lyubov Valentinovna Prigozhina?
Prigozhin was married to Lyubov Valentinovna Prigozhina, a pharmacist and businesswoman. She owns a network of boutique stores known as the Chocolate Museum («Музей шоколада») in Saint Petersburg.
Also Read: Is Yevgeny Prigozhin dead? Private plane carrying Wagner chief crashes in Russia
Yevgeny Prigozhin was a Russian businessman who gained notoriety for his connections to various activities, including catering, media, and alleged involvement in disinformation campaigns. He was born on June 1, 1961, in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia.
Prigozhin was often referred to as “Putin’s Chef” due to his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He was known to have established the Concord Catering company, which provided catering services to the Russian government and various entities. However, his activities expanded beyond the food industry.
Prigozhin had been linked to the Internet Research Agency (IRA), a Russian organization accused of spreading disinformation and engaging in online influence campaigns to manipulate public opinion, both in Russia and abroad. The IRA was reportedly involved in attempts to interfere with the 2016 United States presidential election through the spread of misleading information on social media platforms.
In 2018, Prigozhin and several companies associated with him were indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice for their alleged involvement in the IRA’s disinformation efforts. The indictment accused them of conspiracy to defraud the United States by interfering with political and electoral processes.
Additionally, Prigozhin had been subject to sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union due to his alleged role in various illicit activities. These sanctions restricted his travel and froze his assets in these jurisdictions.
