E78 The Flavorful Life of Yevgeny Prigozhin

Gladio Free Europe

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By now much of our audience may have heard of PMC Wagner, the mercenary group that marched on Moscow earlier this week in what appeared to be an abortive coup against the Russian government. Wagner infamous for its many alleged atrocities, and has been proven to be the most effective force in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But this notorious private army is all the work of larger-than-life dog vendor Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Liam and Sam B recount the rise of Russia's most bizarre oligarch, nicknamed "Putin's Chef" for his insistence that his only business was catering. A failed athlete and former burglar, Prigozhin who fought his way to the top of St. Petersburg's brutal post-Soviet economy while striking up an advantageous friendship with a young Vladimir Putin. Long rumored to have ties to organized crime, he took up a side hustle as a warlord through his association with mercenary Dmitry Utkin, the apparent Neo-Nazi for whom PMC Wagner is named. After being outed as the leader of Wagner despite years of denial, Prigozhin has taken the stage as the fiercest critic of Russia's strategy in Ukraine. He gained attention for his colorful, vulgar front-camera video rants tearing into the military brass, particularly Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu. And just days ago, the world watched this trash talk escalate into an armed attempt to remove Shoigu from power.

On this week's episode of Gladio Free Europe, we explain why Yevgeny Prigozhin is both a figure from another time and also a guy who is inextricably of the president. Listen and find out if this St. Petersburg sausage seller really is the End of History on horseback.

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