What the Wagner boss said: a Q & A with Yevgeny Prigozhin
Yevgeny Prigozhin
told The Daily Telegraph he was a “pacifist” in his first interview with a Western media organisation in 2021. Until Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Prigozhin went to enormous lengths to deny any involvement with the Wagner mercenary group, using lawyers and the press watchdog to warn off anyone who dared suggest he was linked to it.
The interview with Prigozhin was conducted via questions submitted to his lawyers, to which he sent back responses.
Q Do you have any connection to the Wagner Group or similar Russian paramilitary forces?
A I very much appreciate the question and can say with confidence that I have no connection whatsoever to Wagner Group or any other mercenary groups. However, it worries me greatly that some people think I have such a connection. I am a pacifist.
Q Why do you think you have been linked with the Wagner Group?
A The last news I heard about the Wagner Group was an article… that says [the group] does not exist… I do not know why I have become a minor character in America’s geopolitical fairytales. Perhaps you will also ask me why the US government thought the kids they droned in Afghanistan were terrorists.
Q How can Western audiences better understand the concerns and motivations of the Russian state and President Putin specifically?
A The Russian state exists to protect the interests of the people of the Russian Federation and Russian people. If you want to understand what Russia will do in a particular situation, ask yourself, “What is in the interests of the Russian people, in a real, material sense?”: sovereignty, prosperity, independence and security. But I have never served in the Russian government and, it bears repeating, I am not closely acquainted with President Putin. Therefore I cannot give any recommendations.
Q How do you characterise the relationship between the UK and Russia at present?
A
As far as I can tell, the UK and Russia do not have an independent state-tostate relationship, except in a purely formal, diplomatic sense. UK policy towards Russia always follows US foreign policy towards Russia. The US has defined its relationship with Russia, and also China, as one of “great power competition”. So the relationship between the UK and Russia is this: the US and Russia are great powers in competition with each other, and the UK has volunteered to help the US in that competition.