A group of Russian mercenaries backed by a notorious oligarch tried to seize control of military facilities in Russia on Saturday, but were swiftly suppressed by President Vladimir Putin’s forces, according to the Kremlin.
The attempted coup was led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Putin and the head of the Wagner Group, a private military company that has been involved in conflicts in Syria, Libya and Ukraine.
Prigozhin claimed that he was acting in the name of the Russian people, who were dissatisfied with Putin’s rule and wanted a change of leadership. He also accused Putin of betraying Russia’s interests by failing to intervene in Ukraine, where a war between government forces and pro-Russian separatists has escalated in recent weeks.
However, Putin denounced Prigozhin’s actions as a “treacherous” and “criminal” attempt to destabilize Russia and undermine its sovereignty. He said that his security forces had quickly neutralized the threat and arrested most of the rebels.
“We will not tolerate any attempts to undermine our constitutional order and our national security,” Putin said in a televised address. “Those who are behind this plot will face the full force of the law.”
The Kremlin said that Putin was briefed on the situation by his defense and security chiefs, and that he ordered an investigation into how Prigozhin’s group managed to infiltrate the military facilities.
Prigozhin is a former convict who became a wealthy businessman after catering for Putin’s events. He is also known as “Putin’s chef” and “the king of trolls” for his alleged role in funding online disinformation campaigns and meddling in foreign elections, including the 2016 U.S. presidential race.
He has been sanctioned by the U.S. and the European Union for his involvement in various malign activities, and he is wanted by the FBI for his alleged role in a massive fraud scheme.
Analysts say that Prigozhin’s move was a sign of growing discontent and rivalry within Putin’s inner circle, as well as a reflection of Russia’s geopolitical challenges and economic woes.
“This is a very serious challenge for Putin, who has relied on Prigozhin’s services for many years,” said Alexander Baunov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center. “It shows that Putin’s grip on power is not as strong as it seems, and that he faces opposition not only from outside, but also from within.”
