Prigozhin Evgeny Viktorovich

Biography

Yevgeny Prigozhin was born in Leningrad. His mother Violetta Kirovna Prigozhina was a physician and worked in a hospital. Father Viktor Evgenievich Prigozhin died early, and the child was raised by his stepfather Samuel Zharkoy. As a ski instructor, Zharkoy introduced him to cross-country skiing.

In 1977, Prigozhin graduated from Leningrad sports boarding school No. 62 (now Olympic Reserve College No. 1), where he studied with swimmer Vladimir Salnikov and gymnast Alexander Dityatin, who later became three-time champions of the Moscow Olympics.

After school, he entered the Leningrad Chemical and Pharmaceutical Institute, received the specialty "pharmacist." In 2018, in an interview, he reported that he had not graduated from the institute.

1979: Imprisonment in a theft case

The Rosbalt agency (the Ministry of Justice included it in the register of foreign media agents) reported that in November 1979, the Kuibyshevsky District People's Court of Leningrad sentenced Prigozhin to two and a half years in prison conditionally on charges of theft.

1981: Sentence of 13 years in prison on new charges

According to Forbes, in 1981, the Zhdanovsky People's District Court of Leningrad sentenced Prigozhin on new charges of theft, fraud, involvement of a minor in criminal activities and robbery by 13 years in prison.

1988: Pardon

In 1988, Prigozhin was pardoned.

1990: Start of business selling hot dogs in St. Petersburg

In 1990, Prigozhin began to do business, starting with the sale of hot dogs. According to Forbes, he opened this business with his stepfather, and part of the production was in Prigozhin's apartment. "The hot dog mustard was kneaded right in my apartment.<...> I had to pay the bandits from each stall for $100, "the publication quoted him as saying.

In 1991-1997, Prigozhin managed a network of private grocery stores "Contrast," in 1995 he opened a bar store "Wine Club" on Vasilyevsky Island in St. Petersburg.

1996: Opening of several restaurants and founding of Concord Catering

In 1996, after meeting restaurateur Tony Gere, he opened the first "elite" restaurant in the city - "Old Customs," after which "Russian Kitsch," "Seven Forty" and "Stroganov Palace" appeared. In the same 1996, Prigozhin founded the Concord Catering company.

In 1997, Prigozhin opened a restaurant on the ship, which was called New Island and at that time became the most expensive restaurant in St. Petersburg. In 1999, Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin and Managing IMF Director Michelle Camdessus dined at New Island.

2002: Chain of pancake cafes "Damn! Donald's "

Prigozhin continued to engage in retail fast food and from 2002 to 2012 developed a network of pancake cafes in St. Petersburg under the name "Damn! Donald's. " The establishments of the network were positioned as socially significant, with cheap food for local residents, the dishes on the menu received unusual names - in particular, there was a sandwich "quadrosison." The businessman planned to open up to 20 cafes, but by 2008 only ten had opened, and since 2009 Prigozhin's company began closing restaurants, the last of which finished working in 2012.

2000s: Construction business

Prigozhin began to engage in the construction business in the 2000s in St. Petersburg. In particular, as Fontanka wrote, Concord in the Lakhta area built the North Versailles residential complex of 45 three-story houses in the architectural style of St. Petersburg of the 18th-19th centuries.

In 2008, Prigozhin's company Concord Management and Consulting LLC (part of the Concord group) received a site near the park of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg for the construction of the Water Tourism Center. In 2011, the company went to court, saying that the city was delaying the allocation of the site. In 2012, the courts of three instances confirmed the rights of the investor. By March 2016, the company erected the Lakhta Plaza complex of six residential buildings with a total area of ​ ​ 41.9 thousand square meters. m.

2010: "Eliseev Merchants Shop"

In 2010, a company owned by Prigozhin's wife rented the House of the Eliseev Brothers Trading Partnership in the center of St. Petersburg, in which, after reconstruction, the Eliseev Merchants Store was opened. In the summer of 2016, the company achieved the right to privatize the building for 740 million rubles.

2013: Internet Research Agency

Prigozhin's name is associated with the Internet Research Agency, created in the summer of 2013, which was called the "troll factory" in the press. In the United States, this structure was accused of interfering in elections. Prigozhin himself denied this for a long time.

In February 2023, the businessman announced that he had invented the Internet Research Agency. "I created it, I managed it for a long time. It was created to protect the Russian information space from the boorish aggressive propaganda of anti-Russian theses from the West, "Prigozhin said.

2014

Creation of PMC Wagner

In September 2022, Yevgeny Prigozhin officially admitted that he had created PMC Wagner in 2014.

Contracts with the Ministry of Defense

Prigozhin's company also collaborated with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation: for the period from the end of 2014 to the middle of 2015, the Concorde structure won tenders for 10.3 billion rubles. for cleaning in barracks and educational institutions of the defense department, RBC calculated then.

The Megalain company associated with Prigozhin received a contract for 3.3 billion rubles in 2015. for the construction of a military base in Valuyki in the Belgorod region, she also won a contract for 161.6 million rubles. for the construction of a military camp in the Omsk region.

In the same year, several companies associated with Prigozhin won tenders for housing and communal services for military camps in several regions of the country.

2016

Food factories and school meals in Moscow

Network "Damn! Donald's "actually served as the basis for the creation of Prigozhin in the future of the format of food factories. In 2016, as RBC wrote then, Prigozhin actually became a monopolist in the school food market in Moscow.

US and EU sanctions

The United States and the European Union accused PMC Wagner of violating human rights in the Middle East and Africa and imposed sanctions against the company, which were tightened after the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine. Sanctions were also imposed in 2016 against Prigozhin, who was accused of having ties to PMCs.

In January 2023, the United States declared PMC Wagner a transnational criminal organization. In response, Prigozhin wrote a letter to the White House asking for clarity on what crimes the organization committed.

2017: Creation of the Patriot Media Group

In 2017, it became known about the creation by Prigozhin's structures of a "media factory," which included the Federal News Agency, as well as other related publications, in particular Politics Today, Economics Today and Narodnye Novosti.

According to an investigation by RBC magazine, by February 2017, the monthly audience of media factory publications reached 36 million people, exceeding the audience of RIA Novosti and Komsomolskaya Pravda. Soon these publications entered the Patriot media group.

2020: Removal of harassment through Interpol

Interpol stopped the prosecution in the international field of the director of Concord Management and Consulting Yevgeny Prigozhin and the company itself from August 28, 2020.

"After the victory in the US court, Concord Management and Consulting and Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin appealed to Interpol with a demand to stop the persecution in the international field. Today, documents were received that Interpol stopped this prosecution on August 28. "

2021: Wanted list in the US

In the United States, Prigozhin was accused of interfering in the 2016 elections and in the political process. In February 2021, the FBI named Prigozhin among 13 Russians who were wanted for interfering in the US presidential election. The agency offered a reward of up to $250 thousand for information that will help to take the businessman into custody. Prigozhin called the bureau's actions "a wanted show, like in old cowboy times," and demanded to remove an announcement from the FBI website about remuneration for information about him.

2023

Concord contracts with Voentorg for 80 billion rubles per year and 86 billion for the maintenance of Wagner

The Wagner group was fully provided by the state.

From May 2022 to May 2023, the authorities paid Wagner PMCs more than 86 billion rubles, and the owner of Concord (Yevgeny Prigozhin) through Voentorg earned 80 billion from the state in a year, Putin said on June 27, 2023. "I hope that no one stole anything or stole less, but we will deal with it all."

Conflict with the Russian Ministry of Defense over the shortage of ammunition in Ukraine

The conflict between the head of PMC Wagner Yevgeny Prigozhin and military officials of the Russian Ministry of Defense on May 4, 2023 entered a new round - public accusations were made.

According to Prigozhin, on May 10, the PMC will leave the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, transferring the position of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. "Wagnerovtsy" will enter the rear areas to restore combat effectiveness.

The Call for Rebellion and the Criminal Case

On the evening of June 23, 2023, Yevgeny Prigozhin said that the Russian military attacked the Wagner PMC camp, killing "a huge number of fighters." He blamed the "military leadership" and promised a response. Later, the press service of the founder of the PMC issued a statement by Prigozhin, in which he clarified that his intention to "respond" is "not a military coup, but a march of justice."

The Ministry of Defense denied Prigozhin's allegations, calling them an "information provocation."

Soon, the FSB and the Prosecutor General's Office reported on the initiation of a criminal case against Prigozhin under Article 279 of the Criminal Code on the fact of organizing an armed rebellion. The FSB said that Prigozhin's statements and actions are actually calls for an armed civil conflict and called on PMC fighters to detain their leader.

"March of Justice" PMC "Wagner" to Moscow and the termination of the criminal case

On the morning of June 24, 2023, it became known that the Wagnerites entered Rostov-on-Don and blocked the headquarters of the Southern Military District, as well as a number of key buildings of law enforcement agencies in the city center, after which they moved further north along the M-4 highway.

During the movement on the column of the PMC "Wagner" worked aircraft, AEROSPACE FORCES Russia after which the soldiers began to shoot down Russian aviation. During the day, aviation lost seven aircraft from the actions of the "Wagnerites," five of which did not carry any weapons. Among them are three Mi-8 MTPR - specialized scarce electronic warfare helicopters and an air control center based on an IL-18 aircraft with a crew.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation, calling the situation an armed rebellion and a stab in the back of Russian servicemen performing tasks in the SVO zone in Ukraine.

Later, on June 27, 2023, President of Belarus Lukashenko recalled: "The most dangerous thing, as I understood, is not what it was, the situation, but how it could develop and its consequences. It was the most dangerous. I also understood: a cruel decision was made (it sounded subtext in Putin's speech) - to wet. I suggested that Putin take his time. Come on, I say, we'll talk to Prigozhin, to his commanders. To which he told me: "Listen, Sasha, it's useless. He doesn't even pick up the phone, he doesn't want to talk to anyone.'

Lukashenko also spoke about the start of negotiations with Yevgeny Prigozhin. So, a significant role in organizing the negotiations belonged to General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, at the first stage the director of the FSB A. Bortnikov also participated.

"In addition to Yevkurov at the first stage and Bortnikov, the director of the FSB, no one participated in these negotiations."

"At 11:00 he (Prigozhin) instantly picked up the phone. That is, Yevkurov called him, gave him the phone: "Here, the President of Belarus is calling, will you talk?" - "I will be with Alexander Grigorievich." I hear their conversation. Picked up the phone. The conversation is euphoria. Eugene has complete euphoria. We talked the first round of minutes 30 in obscene language. Exclusively. The words of the obscene (I later analyzed) were 10 times more than normal vocabulary. He, of course, apologized and began to tell me with obscene words, "Lukashenka recalled.

The rebellious march ended two hundred kilometers from Moscow, when, through the mediation of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the Russian authorities and Prigozhin managed to reach a compromise.

The head of the Wagner PMC said that the terms of the agreements suit them, the march is over and the soldiers are returning to field camps, after which the Wagnerites began to organize to leave Rostov-on-Don. According to some information, Alexey Dyumin, the governor of the Tula region, also took part in the negotiations.

One of Prigozhin's demands was the resignation of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and head of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.

At the end of the day, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that the criminal case against Prigozhin would be terminated, and he himself would "go to Belarus."

Blocking and closing the media

On June 29, 2023, the blocking and closure of the media of Yevgeny Prigozhin began in Russia.

The website of the RIA Fan agency is blocked, there is also no news in their telegram. Employees of the information resources of the head of the Wagner PMC in St. Petersburg were informed about the closure of projects and dissolution.

Presumably, part of the resources of Prigozhin's media empire (a grid of 25 Telegram channels, 8 sites, 3 large groups in the social network "Vkontakte," the resource "City of Changes" and the main asset - RIA FAN) will be absorbed by the main portal of the city - Fontanka (Shkulev Media Holding).

Yevgeny Prigozhin dissolved the Patriot media holding, the Mash channel reported, citing a source in the company. FAN, Narodnye Novosti, Economics Today and many other publications stop working.

Return of billions of rubles of cash confiscated during the search

On July 5, 2023, the media published personnel from searches in the mansion and office of Yevgeny Prigozhin, which were carried out by security forces.

The personnel shows a whole arsenal of weapons, wigs, bundles of money, a prayer room and a medical office.

The media also reported that Prigozhin was returned 10 billion rubles, which were seized during searches in St. Petersburg.

On Sunday morning, July 2, the investigation was not going to return to the founder of the PMC found on June 24 during searches 10 billion rubles, hundreds of thousands of dollars and 5 bars of gold, but then the decision changed.

Meetings with officials of the CAR, Mali and Niger at the summit in St. Petersburg

In July 2023, Yevgeny Prigozhin appeared on the sidelines of a major Russian-African summit in St. Petersburg, despite allegedly agreeing to go into exile after a failed mutiny last month, the FT wrote.

Prigozhin was photographed shaking hands with Freddie Mapuk, the protocol chief for CAR President Fosten-Archange Tuadera, who attended the summit.

News outlets previously part of Prigozhin's media empire claim that Prigozhin also met with officials Mali and, Niger where a coup attempt began a few days earlier, threatening to remove pro-Western President Mohamed Bazum from power.

A Speech in Africa on New Challenges

The head of the Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin made a video message from Africa on August 22, 2023 and announced the resumption of the recruitment of people to conduct hostilities on the black continent.

According to him, PMCs will continue to fulfill their tasks in order, quote, "to make Russia even more great."

As a result, the PMC, as Prigozhin promised back in May (a month and a half before the rebellion), underwent reorganization by August and focused on fulfilling new tasks.

At this time, PMC forces maintain an active presence in the CAR and Mali. In Sudan, the mission is minimal, in Libya there is also a limited contingent, and in Burkina Faso, active activity is only unfolding.

Death in a plane crash

The head of the Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin was in a private plane that crashed on August 23, 2023 in the Tver region. As a result of the fall, everyone on board was killed.

Rosaviatsia: "According to the airline, the following passengers were on board the Embraer-135 (EBM-135BJ) aircraft:

• Propustin Sergey;
• Makaryan Evgeniy;
• Totmin Aleksandr;
• Chekalov Valeriy;
• Utkin Dmitriy;
• Matuseev Nikolay;
• Prigozhin Evgeniy;

Crew members:

• Levshin Aleksei, commander;
• Karimov Rustam, co-pilot;
• Raspopova Kristina, flight attendant.

The flight of the Embraer-135 (EBM-135BJ) aircraft was carried out on the basis of a permit for the use of airspace issued in accordance with the established procedure. "

Vladimir Putin's statement about the crash of Yevgeny Prigozhin's plane

What happened is a tragedy. The employees of the Wagner PMC who died on the plane are people who made a significant contribution to the fight against the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine. This is remembered and will not be forgotten.

Yevgeny Prigozhin is a man of difficult fate who had serious mistakes in his life. He achieved the necessary results for himself and for a common cause.

Prigozhin was a talented man and businessman who worked not only in Russia, but also abroad, in particular in Africa. He was engaged in oil, gas, precious metals and stones.

A preliminary investigation into the crash has begun. It, without a doubt, will be carried out in full and to the end. Now there are technical and genetic examinations, which take a certain time.

Family

As of 2023, Prigozhin was married, he has three children.

In 2003, Prigozhin, together with his children Polina and Pavel, wrote the book of fairy tales "Indragusik," which describes the fabulous country of Indragusia.

In September 2022, Prigozhin on the page of his press service on the social network "Vkontakte" said that his son, at the age of 18, served in the armed forces and a month after the army "went to war in Syria." "Since then, he has constantly been and is in hot spots as part of the Wagner PMC, where he received his first Black Cross (PMC award. - RBC), "- said in the message.

Members of Prigozhin's family, including his children Polina and Pavel, were sanctioned by a number of Western countries in 2022. The mother of Violetta Prigozhin (born 1939) also fell under the sanctions of the EU and Canada. But in March 2023, she was able to achieve the cancellation of the restrictions imposed by the European Union. The EU court found that it does not own Concord Management and Consulting, as Brussels believed, and family ties are not enough to be included in the sanctions list.

Awards

Prigozhin was awarded the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" IV degree "for the achieved labor successes, a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the Russian Federation, merits in space exploration, the humanitarian sphere, strengthening the rule of law, active legislative and social activities, many years of conscientious work," and medals of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" I and II degrees.

Also in public sources there are photographs of Prigozhin with the stars of Hero of Russia, Hero of Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. The Kremlin, when asked about assigning Prigozhin the title of hero by a closed presidential decree, said only that all open decrees were published.